THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON WEDNESDAY, November 10, I listened to Egeton Newman of the National Association of Taxi Operators being interviewed on RJR's 'Beyond the Headlines'. I was very surprised to hear Mr. Newman saying that there are too many Jamaica Urban Transit company (JUTC) buses on the road. Mr. Newman would like to see more route taxis on routes. He also said the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) should not be controlled by the JUTC.
In my opinion, there should be no route taxis operating along routes operated by the JUTC. Because of route and 'robot' taxis, the JUTC is losing much needed revenue. If drastic action is not taken to curb the number of route and 'robot' taxis that are operating in the KMTR, the JUTC will soon be out of business.
I remember the days when passengers were packed into buses like sardines in a tin, the abuse from crews, and the bad driving of buses, I do not want to go back there. It is also my opinion that the Government blundered when National Transport Corporation (NTC) was allowed to operate the coaster buses on some routes operated by the JUTC. Since there is a need for those buses, the Government should have bought them from NTC and allow JUTC to operate them. The manner in which those NTC coaster buses are driven are no way different from before.
I hope the Government will not sit and allow Mr. Newman to dictate what should be done like they allowed Mr. Millwood to do. No fare increase should be granted to taxi operators unless granted to JUTC.
I am, etc.,
BILL SAUNDERS
Kingston 11
