30 Per Cent Cut in PPV Renewal Fees

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced a 30 per cent cut in renewal fees for public passenger vehicles (PPVs).

He said that the support, which will last for one year, will benefit route taxi, hackney carriage, rural stage carriage and contract carriers.

The Prime Minister, who was making his contribution to the 2023/2024 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Thursday (March 16), said that the incentive is to allow operators to get regularised and avoid tickets.

He noted that while more than 9,000 operators were able to benefit from the CARE programme to the tune of approximately $300 million, many others were unable to access the programme for a variety of reasons, including lack of registration or incomplete registration with the relevant authority at the stipulated date.

He said that during the one-year period of the reduction in renewal fees, the Ministry of Transport and Mining has been directed to establish an updated database of all operators.

Meanwhile, as part of measures to improve the quality of service in the industry, a short course will be introduced for PPV drivers, which will be administered by the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) in collaboration with the HEART/NSTA Trust.

“Drivers will be invited to register for the course focused on the new Road Traffic Regulations, defensive and courteous driving techniques, maintenance and sanitation procedures for vehicles, assistance with establishing bank accounts and digital wallets, and the use of digital payment technologies,” Mr. Holness said.

He told the House that all drivers who complete the course will be certified and receive a $25,000 grant from the Government.

As it relates to motorcycle riders, the Prime Minister said that 10,000 free helmets will be made available for those who participate and complete a short safety training course.

Turning to other support for transport operators, the Prime Minister said that a special loan for the sector that is administered by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) is being recrafted to facilitate access on preferential terms for persons who would like to change their current vehicle or motorcycle to an electric vehicle or motorcycle.

“Our preliminary analysis shows that electric vehicles could be very efficient for certain types of taxi operations,” Mr. Holness said.

He noted that the National Works Agency (NWA) has been directed to assess the adequacy of parking, loading bays and approved stops in all urban areas and townships and along all approved routes for urgent action.

“We want to transform public transport in Jamaica. The above measures, along with the 100 electric buses announced last week, is a significant seed in that transformation,” Mr. Holness said.