Commuters use JUTC out of fear

Several female commuters have resorted to using the government-run bus service following reports that women are being abducted and raped in some cases by illegal taxi-operators increase.



They say they have begun taking the JUTC busses out of fear of taking taxis.



Authorized taxi operators in the St Andrew capital, Half-Way Tree, have confirmed that their source of livelihood is being stifled because of the reports.



According to the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s latest crime statistics, since the start of the year, there have been 57 reported cases of abductions and 536 cases of rape.



Fifty-six children and 122 women have been killed.



The police say illegal taxi operators are among the perpetrators.



One registered taxi operator who plies the Half-Way Tree to Papine route says commuters are afraid to travel with him.



Another of his colleagues says he too is being affected and as a result he now spends less time on the road.



He says previously he would work up to 10:00 p.m. but now he goes home as early as 5:00 p.m. in the evenings.



Last Thursday, three females, one as young as eight years old, were abducted from a popular fast food store off Barbican Road in Liguanea, St Andrew.



The older females were raped and robbed, then later released.