Trelawny bus operators not worried about losing business to new school buses

Public passenger bus operators in the parish of Trelawny say they do not expect any significant financial losses with the introduction of the Rural School Bus System.

 

The school buses will be rolled out in the parish at the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year in September.

 

Errol 'Hornsman' Lee, who services the route between Falmouth and Montego Bay, told The Gleaner "There are over 2,000 students between Holland High and William Knibb. That school bus can only take a certain number and only make one trip between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. After that it will be left to us regular ones to transport the students."

 

"Wah a fi yuh can't be un fi yuh, so I am not worried," he said.

 

Rohan Simpson, who transports students between Falmouth and Stewart Town, says the school bus system will not affect him in any way.

 

"I transport students to and from Westwood High. Those buses are going to find it difficult to negotiate those narrow roads," he said.

 

He added, "Right now I have parents booking space for their daughters come September."

 

Another transport operator, Ricky Campbell, said "Mek dem come, mi know seh dem bus deh can't run pon dem kara kara road weh we drive pon so it nuh bother mi." He operates between Falmouth and Bunkers Hill.

 

Meanwhile Michael Troupe, who is in charge of safety and security at the Ministry of Education, gave an update on preparations for the implementation of the school bus system.

 

"We have identified 120 routes that needs servicing. We are in consultations with critical stakeholders. In the meantime, the buses are being retrofitted. It's early days yet, no decisions have been made just yet. What I can say is that those private operators who were contracted to the ministry will most likely remain," Troupe told The Gleaner.

 

- Leon Jackson

 

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