Author: @JUTC-RedeV

For many years, the JUTC has battled with stone throwing incidents, that is, vandalism of buses which has caused injury to some of its drivers and passengers alike. It has also resulted in spending millions of dollars to repair broken windscreens and bus infrastructure. Over the past three years, the problem has been exacerbated! These incidents have caused massive dislocation resulting in buses being down for inordinate periods of time, as spare parts which are not available here has to be sourced overseas. This not only affects the operations and the ability of the Company to generate much needed revenue but also the public i.e. productivity.

A brief summary reveals that since January 2018 to October 2021, there have been 311 incidents of vandalism. The year 2018 is the highest on record with 99 incidents reported. This is followed by 2019 with 95 incidents. The JUTC also received reports of 63 cases in 2020. With two months to go before the close of 2021, already there are 54 reported cases where the windscreens of the buses were mainly damaged in these incidents. An analysis of a report by our Security Department reveals that from August 10, 2021 to October 16, 2021 most of the stone throwing incidents occurred in the Three Miles Hunts Bay Police Station area.

What is very alarming from that report is that a driver last week sustained a minor injury to his shoulder in the execution of his duty. Fortunately, most of the drivers have not sustained any major injuries. However, this does not mean that our drivers are not psychologically affected by these incidents. This practice creates an unsafe working environment for them. The practice is not only dangerous to our drivers but also commuters. Imagine boarding a bus en-route to work in order to provide food on the table and while peacefully seated, someone throws a stone inside the bus hitting you above your right eye. While you try to create a mental picture, that was the reality for one of our passengers in 2018. That was not the only incident involving the public, as several other incidents have resulted in injury to other passengers.

We continue to engage the police in putting an end to this criminal practice. We have also partnered with Crime Stop and have offered rewards to put an end to this nonsensical and heinous practice. As we have done before, we are again appealing to the public to report these incidents. A JUTC bus cost an average 30 million Jamaican dollars. It behooves every well thinking Jamaican to protect this asset. Anyone with information that can assist with arresting those responsible, are being asked to report it to the nearest police station. Persons with information may also contact the JUTC at 876-570-1789 via WhatsApp or via our social media platforms. Pleaseee stop stoning and damaging our buses!

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine: The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) will be operating a limited service for essential and frontline staff during the seven (7) no-movement days, which will take effect on Sunday, August 22, 2021 .

The bus company wishes to advise that with the curfew being extended today to 9pm that buses will be available until 8:30pm to facilitate essential workers who may leave work late and need to do last minute shopping. On days when the curfew is at 8pm, the last trip for all routes will be at 7:30pm.

“We are encouraging commuters to take note of the curfew times and NOT to wait until the appointed time to get their business done. Let me also say that on the no-movement days, we will be operating with a skeleton staff, with only essential workers being on the ground to include bus drivers and members of our maintenance team,” Mr Thoms continued.

Meanwhile, the JUTC’s ticket office will be closed on no-movement days, but will reopen on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 for commuters wishing to top-up or block lost or stolen SmarterCards. As such, we are appealing to commuters to top up their SmarterCards in advance.

The JUT C is urging commuters to wear their masks, ensuring that their noses are covered for the entire length of their journey when using public transportation and to adhere to the established health protocols. Keep safe and stay alive.

Download Limited Service Routes & Departure Times Here

Kingston, Jamaica: August 17, 2021
One thousand employees of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) are now being trained
to help with the recovery of missing children through a partnership with the Child Protection and
Family Services Agency’s (CPFSA) Ananda Alert Secretariat.
Under the initiative, drivers, conductors and dispatchers will be trained in identifying signs of
child abuse, categories of missing children, identifying children who may be at-risk (runaways,
abducted, otherwise exploited), handling incidents and making reports.
Chief Executive Officer at the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Rosalee
Gage-Grey, said the partnership with JUTC is the first in a series of trainings by the Ananda
Alert Secretariat to sensitize workers in the transport sector about missing children and the role
they can play in the recovery process.
Mrs. Gage-Grey added that the partnership was also developed in recognition of the need to
embrace new strategies and synergies that aid in the safe and speedy recovery of missing
children.
“The Ananda Alert Programme has a four-pronged approach: prevention, recovery, intervention
and knowledge sharing. The transport sector is well-poised to assist us in much of these areas,
but particularly the recovery aspect. Children take buses and taxis every day. Therefore, we
believe that the partnership with the transport sector will greatly aid in our efforts to locate
missing children and even further our prevention efforts,” Mrs. Gage-Grey said.
Meanwhile, JUTC’s Managing Director Paul Abrahams said the partnership was quite timely as
there is an urgent need for Jamaicans to protect the nation’s children.
“At the JUTC, we care about the well-being of the nation’s children. This partnership involving
our frontline team will mean more eyes and ears to identify incidents of child abuse and to
recover missing children with our wide network of drivers and dispatchers. Our children are our
future and we must do everything we can to protect them,” Mr. Abrahams said.
Last year, 1,066 children were reported missing with 843 located; a decrease from 2019 where
1,534 children were reported missing with 1,072 located.
Mrs. Gage-Grey said the numbers are still a cause for great concern as any missing child is a
child in need of care and protection.
Operated by CPFSA’s National Children’s Registry, the Ananda Alert Secretariat, established in
2009, has responsibility for the implementation of missing children interventions and
coordinating of stakeholders in the Ananda Alert system.