Managing Director of the Jamaican Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Paul Abrahams outlined on Wednesday that the company is proposing to implement a cashless system in February 2023.

While addressing the Parliament’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), Abrahams stated that the final bid from a prospective supplier has been submitted and the bus company is awaiting approval from the Transport Ministry.

“Tender was out and the evaluation was completed by the ministry, I think, last week. We are now awaiting the report from the ministry as to who the chosen provider is.” He explained.

Permanent Secretary in the Transport Ministry Alwin Hayles also noted that the proposed cashless system would not require a robust cash injection from JUTC for its implementation.

Meanwhile PAAC Chairman Mikael Phillips welcomed the initiative but expressed disappointment in the delay.

Phillips also weighed whether the initiative would be beneficial amid the financial losses the company faced, chiding that a large percentage of its fare box goes to the pockets of others and not the JUTC.

“We talk about the fare box, and we have not yet put anything in place or the resources to put anything in place. It begs the question, how serious are we in really cauterizing some of these issues, seeing that we are asking taxpayers to spend nearly $8 billion of subvention to the JUTC” he emphasized.