No Excuse By JUTC – Managing Director

Managing Director of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Collin Campbell, has said the company should have no excuse for not providing commuters with the required number of buses in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region.

Speaking at the recent handing over ceremony for 73 buses by the Volvo dealer, JR Wellington Import-Export Corporation (JR Group) Ltd., on Thursday, May 8, Mr. Campbell cited the implementation of a proper preventive maintenance and inspection programme and improvement of the human resources as the reasons for his declaration.

“We are experiencing approximately 30 per cent increase in our fare income, based on the reform process and the increased roll-out of buses,” the Managing Director said.

He explained that it was the intervention of Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, who had renegotiated aspects of the VDL Jonkheere (Volvo) contract shortly after assuming portfolio responsibility for Transport, which resulted in the acquisition of a significant number of new spare parts.

The Managing Director thanked the Minister for his part in ensuring that the JUTC not only received new buses, but enhanced its ability to maintain the buses. “It is important to have a robust maintenance programme. Since renegotiation of the loan, JUTC has brought in 18 containers of new spare parts which has helped us to manage and maintain the fleet at a certain quality,” he said.

“Less than a year ago, we were inspecting about 70 per cent of our buses…we are now inspecting and have in preventive maintenance, over 90 per cent of our fleet,” he added.

Mr. Campbell said the company has beefed up the human resources in the maintenance department with the employment of 20 mechanics, a chief mechanic, a fleet assurance manager and a Volvo expert from Europe.

Of the 73 buses delivered by JR Group Ltd., 69 were handed over to the JUTC and four to Montego Bay Metro, which operates in the second city.

The units delivered are the fifth tranche of 230 buses which were secured under a 100 million Euro programme which was implemented with the assistance of the Belgian government.

The final delivery of buses will be made in April 2015 when the JUTC will receive 17 regular buses and 10 luxury premium coaches.