Clampdown on illegal taxis in corporate area to continue

The Transport Authority and police have been mandated to continue their clampdown on illegal taxi operators plying some Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) designated routes in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR).

Meanwhile, the JUTC has put in place special arrangements for commuters, especially university students travelling the Half-Way-Tree to Papine route.

These decisions were arrived at during a meeting between the police the JUTC, the authority and the ministry today.

The meeting follows operations by police to remove taxis which are operating illegally on the Papine to Half-Way-Tree route after commuters complained of a hike in fares.

Minister without portfolio in the ministry Dr Morais Guy says today's meeting among stakeholders and ministry agencies were to facilitate an update on the situation.

Dr Guy says he has instructed the Transport Authority to continue joint operations with the Jamaica Constabulary Force in their monitoring of two identified problem routes.

These are the corridor linking Half-Way-Tree to Papine and the Half-Way-Tree to Mountain View route.

The police and authority have also been asked to monitor all routes in the KMTR.

Dr Guy adds, that the JUTC has committed to providing adequate seating for commuters and has created a special facility for university students.

This new arrangement has resulted in an extension of the Half-Way-Tree to Papine route to terminate at the gate leading to Irvine Hall at the University of the West Indies.

In the meantime, Dr Guy is calling on all stage carriage operators plying the Down Town to Spanish Town, Linstead to Papine and Old Harbour to Papine areas to complete their routes.

He says commuters are being severely inconvenienced when the operators fail to operate consistent with the terms and conditions of their road licences.

Hackney carriage operators are also being warned to ensure that they operate legally and that they refrain from operating as route taxis in the KMTR.

Dr Guy reiterates that no fare increase has been granted to any sector of the public transportation system and that appropriate actions will be taken against operators who overcharge commuters.