Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry says funds are now in place to commence the refurbishing of more than 755 abandoned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses, at a facility to be established in Montego Bay, St. James.
“We will be repairing/restoring five buses a month within three months, to put back into the system,” the Minister pointed out. Mr. Henry made the announcement while giving the keynote address at the opening of the 2011 Island Traffic Authority residential seminar/workshop, being held at the Riu Hotels and Resort, in Ironshore, Montego Bay, on May 12.
The event will take place from May 12 to 15, and is being held under the theme: ‘Transforming the way we do Business’. Mr. Henry explained that rather than sending the buses to Brazil to be refurbished, he has made arrangements for the technology to be transferred to Montego Bay and a facility established. He pointed out that up to 100 Jamaicans should be employed through the project.
“The rehabilitation will be done at one third the cost of a new bus; they will all be fully air-conditioned, and will carry nearly all the guarantee of a new bus when completed,” the Minister said. On another matter, Mr. Henry said that road safety has become extremely important in the government’s efforts to reduce traffic accidents; adding that the whole educational process about road safety needs to be supported.
Source – JIS
