JUTC to increase security on buses after driver shot dead

Chairman of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Reverend Dr Garnett Roper says the state-owned bus company will be increasing security on its buses following last night's murder of 51-year-old driver, Albert Barnes, in August Town, St Andrew.

At the same time, Roper says the JUTC will be reviewing the use of cash on its buses.

Barnes was shot and killed in an attempted robbery in August Town, St. Andrew, 24 hours after another JUTC bus driver was robbed in the same community.

Roper says passengers who use cash may soon have to pay more than those who use the JUTC’s smarter cards.

Roper also says steps will be taken to improve security on JUTC buses.

According to him, already all 560 JUTC buses are fitted with closed-circuit TV cameras and soon, the company will add WiFi so that the footage can be transmitted live to a location.

It is reported that Barnes was held up and fatally shot after he refused to hand over money demanded by his robbers.

Roper says the surveillance tape was reviewed and there was no sign that the robbers were able to take any money.

He says the tragic death has affected his staff as well as commuters in August Town.