Category: News

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC), has launched a wide scale investigation into an incident involving a former member of staff who drove away a bus from one of its depots, which caused minor damage to a motor car in Grants Pen, St. Andrew, on Sunday, December 23, 2018. No one was hurt or injured in the incident.

According to reports, the former staff who was employed as a mechanic, came onto the compound in another bus which had reportedly developed mechanical problems along North Parade, Kingston. It is reported that the driver of the bus allowed the ex-employee to drive the bus back to the depot. It is further alleged that while at the depot, the ex-employee gained access to another unit and drove it out of the compound without the requisite security and operational clearance.

Preliminary assessment has so far revealed that the driver of the bus which allowed the ex-employee access to the facility was not aware that the former employee was no longer working with the Company.

“This is a very serious security and operational breach and the matter is being dealt with at the highest level. The matter has been reported to the Police and we await the outcome of their investigations”, said Corporate Communications Manager, Cecil Thoms. He said the Company has also met with its security provider regarding the security breach and is also conducting a review of internal operations pending the final report into the matter.

In the meantime, the Company has engaged retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Granville Gause to launch a wide scale investigation into the incident.

SPANISH TOWN: Corporate Office – A motorcyclist died tragically last night after the bike he was riding veered in the direction of a Jamaica Urban Transit Company bus in Above Rocks, in the vicinity of Parks Road in St. Catherine.

Preliminary reports indicate that at around 9:50pm Sunday, a bus was travelling towards Above Rocks when a motor bike travelling in the opposition direction veered into the path of the bus. It’s reported that the bike rider was being transported to hospital when the vehicle in which he was being carried met in an accident.

Meanwhile, information reaching the JUTC is that members of the community are threatening to damage JUTC’s buses in retaliation over the accident. The management of the bus company is expressing condolences to the family of the deceased. It must be noted however that any threat of violence, confirmed by the police, will result in the bus company pulling its service to the route to protect state property and life.

 

The matter is being investigated by the Police.

As a follow up to our previous communication, kindly note that there will be additional closures along the Three Miles/Hagley Park corridor, effective Sunday, September 9, 2018, as road improvement works continue.

The additional closures will impact our Portmore operation. We are allocating buses at Dawkins Drive and will be dispatching buses at Christian Gardens, Naggo Head and Greater Pormore earlier than usual. We appeal to commuters to start their journey early.

There will be delays. We ask you to be considerate and patient as we go through this period together.

Please familiarize yourself with the routes affected and detours to help you in your travels.

Our valued commuters,
As you are aware, there are several road works taking place across the entire Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region, KMTR. This will impact our operations. As a result, commuters should expect delays and traffic detours. Additionally, there will be increased traffic on the road network due to the start of the new school year. We are therefore appealing to commuters, to leave out earlier to reach your destination on time.

Just before Summer, we developed an early bird service in Spanish Town, St. Catherine in anticipation for the impact of these road works which starts from 4am until 5:30am to move mass commuters. A similar exercise will be done in Portmore, St. Catherine starting at 5:30am at Dawkins Drive.

Kindly note, that our Portmore operations will be primarily affected. A total of 34 routes will be affected, 24 of which is from Portmore.

We are appealing to you to exercise understanding and restraint despite the distress these infrastructural works may cause. We’ll be working closely with our partners the National Works Agency and the Jamaica Constabulary Force with regards to traffic management and to minimize as best as possible, the impact on you. We look forward to your continued support.

Please see below useful information and maps of detours that will help you determine your travels. We encourage you to keep track of detours by visiting our website www.jutc.gov.jm, the press and our social media pages.