JUTC And Stakeholders To Curb Indiscipline At Transport Centre

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has joined forces with the police, student organisations, principals, and other stakeholders to address reported anti-social and other inappropriate behaviours by students at the Half-Way-Tree Transportation Centre.

Speaking at a Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday, November 20, Managing Director of the JUTC, Colin Campbell, informed that marshalls have been posted at the centre, particularly on a Friday to deter students from idling at the centre.

The marshalls are mainly former teachers and representatives of various parent teacher associations (PTA).

“It has been fairly successful. We have had a lessening of the build-up of kids in there on Friday evenings and (JUTC buses) have been able to move out in a way that matches the transport flows in the evenings,” he said.

Mr. Campbell noted that the objective is not to be forceful, but to work with the students.  He noted that the public address system in the centre is used to encourage students to move on and not to loiter.

“The partnership is working (and) we need to get more persons on board,” he said, noting that the JUTC and its partners have been conducting talks in schools.

Weeks ago, a national newspaper carried a story detailing a number of inappropriate activities and interactions by students, who converge at the transport centre.