Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, on Monday, January 8, 2024, visited the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre, to observe operations since the implementation of reduced fares for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) at the start of the new calendar year and indicated that there are some critical issues in the system.

He highlighted that he saw several challenges that urgently needed to be addressed, such as the availability of buses and the long wait time of commuters.

He recognised that commuters were at a major disadvantage and said the responsibility was his as the Transport Minister.

Vaz reiterated his commitment to getting 100 of the 300 buses procured as soon as June 2024, with September being the latest to help ease the “misery index”.

Minister Vaz was accompanied by Managing Director of the JUTC, Paul Abrahams, Chairman of the Transport Authority, Owen Ellington, Managing Director of the Transport Authority, Ralston Smith, other officials from the JUTC and the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport.