Proceeding with caution

The verdict is still out on whether a 35 per cent fare increase, to come on stream in stages beginning this Sunday with a 19 per cent hike, will move the needle for taxi and bus operators islandwide.

Some are even wary of the swift and sudden move by the Government after what they characterise as being left wandering in the wilderness for years.

On Tuesday, Daryl Vaz, minister with responsibility for transport, told Parliament that the first increase takes effect on Sunday, October 15, and announced that operators would receive a further 16 per cent increase, effective April 2024.

The transport minister, while telling Parliament that approval had been granted, noted that bus and taxi operators had not received a fare increase since 2021, when a 25 per cent increase was approved.

Last month, a minimum 60 per cent increase was being demanded by taxi association heads.

Yesterday, Portmore taxi operator Dwight Beckford told The Gleaner that he was skeptical of the Government’s “phased basis”.

“What is the outcome for the taxi men and bus men? Because we a go under some severe pressure from examiner. We want to know if the road dem a go get fix. Something is behind it,” Beckford said.

He said that taxi operators always come out on the losing end.

“Dat a my fear towards the increase. Not saying it nuh justified, but what next? Something is gonna come. Dem nuh jus give you a raise so. There is a trick to it,” Beckford added.

He said passengers have been engaged in discussions since the news broke late Tuesday.

“Me can’t give them a price because I can’t determine say a $170. Is what Transport Authority saying about it? I can’t give a justified answer,” he said, adding that passengers now pay $150.

He operates from Spanish Town to Naggo Head and said that come Sunday, fares may be as much as $180.

Another taxi operator said that they were in the wilderness for very long and shared Beckford’s sentiments.

“We deh ya 11 years a suffer, so how all of a sudden we get big increase in space a two years? Something deh inna something. We can’t a struggle over 11 years, a bawl ‘we want increase’ and nah get none. An’ den two increase in less than two year?” said the operator, who requested anonymity.

Vaz was handed portfolio responsibility for transport just under six months ago, and even his quick pace of transformation in the sector seems to be more of a concern than a relief to some operators.

“Dem love we too much, and we nuh feel too loving. You nuh hear the man say him a come road,” an operator said, jokingly.

Bus operator Andrew Walker told The Gleaner that while the increase of about $20 now is good, it is still short when they factor what they have to deal with as expenditure.

Walker plies the Greater Portmore to Corporate Area routes.

He said the fare, if not increased to $200, could have remained at $150.

“A just the JUTC (Jamaica Urban Transit Company ) fi raise ‘cause right now a just $100. It fi equal (so that passengers won’t defer to save). Dem way under the margin and those buses can’t survive at $100. Dem shouldn’t a run fi that.”

When asked about the impact on passengers if a $200 fare is required, Walker said commuters should ask their employers for a raise, citing the recent increase in minimum wage.

“The toll a tek away about $14,000 out a the money a day time. Just toll alone,” Walker said.

Passengers with whom The Gleaner engaged also held their brakes on speaking until they are told how much more they would have to fork out.

A Portmore pensioner, Dian Barker, was taken by surprise at the development when told by The Gleaner during her Wednesday morning commute.

“Wow … . I’m a pensioner and my pension nuh increase, and the thing is they got the increase in 2021,” she said. “We had to be paying $150 or $140, depending on the transport.”

Barker said the authorities need to regulate the prices.

“I was paying $140 and $150, but it wasn’t suppose to be that because the raise was only 15 per cent, so it should be $115 or $120, and dem bring it up,” Barker said.

Fredrick Bryan, president of the Vere Taxi Association in Clarendon, said his members have heard the news, and while happy with an increase, understand the nature of the business they are in.

“We understand the nature of what the people are experiencing on the ground,” Bryan said. “We understand also the nature of the service that we provide - what it costs and what it needs to stay functional.”

Bryan said they have been making representation to different transport ministers over the years based on needs assessments.

“What we face on the roads as it relates to maintenance cost, gas cost, vehicular cost … while we are thankful, we know it will dissipate in no time,” Bryan said.

He said, while not only seeking a fare increase, the powers that be could lessen the expenditures of operators by maintaining the road network.

“When you look at the road network that we have to traverse on, they should help us now to reduce our operational costs. That would help in a real way because we would spend less on maintenance,” Bryan said.

Maintenance costs, according to Bryan, are exceedingly high.

“When you think of the parts that are purchased, daily, weekly, monthly. When you look at the tires and physical damage to the body itself, when you see the terrain that have to traverse, it is terrible,” he said, adding that net results are still not where they want it to be.

Bryan also told The Gleaner that he understands that the phased basis is to lessen the strain on the travelling public.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com