The Opposition says the decision for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) to abandon 23 routes, represents a major breach of the company’s exclusive licence under the Public Passenger Transport Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region Act.

During Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz revealed that the Transport Authority and the JUTC have finalised the conversion of 11 JUTC bus routes to public passenger vehicle taxi routes.

Mr. Vaz said applications for the converted routes opened last month.

He noted that an additional 12 routes were requested from the JUTC for taxis.

In a statement today, Opposition Spokesman on Transport Mikael Phillips said the 23 routes account for more than 25 per cent of those in the KMTR, and their removal amounts to an abdication of the company’s responsibility to adequately provide service.

Additionally, he said it constitutes a breach of the exclusive licence.

The spokesman expressed concern that the public transport sector will be wrecked.