Problem students cutting into JUTC's cash

The managing director of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Colin Campbell, says the organisation's coffers have been suffering, as many adults have refused to travel on the buses due to unacceptable behaviour by students at the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre in St Andrew.

Campbell, who was adding his voice to concerns being raised about students' conduct by other persons who utilise the transport centre, described the situation as unfortunate.

"This has been hampering our services and causing us to lose a lot of money. Fewer adults are going in there, especially on a Friday, and this has been a problem, certainly from I have been here," Campbell said.

"The two biggest travel days are Mondays and Fridays, and rather than going into the transport centre, they prefer to take a Coaster bus. What we have had to do sometimes is to pick them (adults) up in front of York Plaza - or somewhere in that area - in order to facilitate them, because they are turned off," said the JUTC boss.

MEETING ON ISSUE

Campbell said he plans to employ a collaborative effort in tackling the problem, beginning with an urgent meeting today.

"We have a meeting tomorrow (today) at the commissioner's office with a number of relevant groupings. The police will be in attendance, and there will be some representatives from the Ministry of Education, among others," he said.

"The fact is, the transport centre was made for everybody, and nothing is wrong if on a Friday, you want to hang out and have a chat with friends. It's just to find a way to instil some values within our students, and definitely that would be my approach," he told The Gleaner.