Gov’t Looking to Revamp Mobay Metro Company Limited

The Government is looking to revamp Montego Bay Metro Company Limited, which recently received 12 additional new buses to boost its service delivery across western Jamaica. 

Speaking during Wednesday’s (September 4) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said this is in keeping with the Administration’s commitment to providing safe, reliable and economical transportation for students, especially those in rural communities. 

“The good news is that the welcome addition to the fleet will see the bus service expanded to four new routes, namely Johns Hall, Bethel Town, Savanna-la-Mar and Lucea,” Mr. Vaz said. 

These, he advised, are in addition to Cambridge, Mackfield, Sandy Bay, Goodwill and Falmouth, noting that all nine routes span the four western parishes of Trelawny, St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland.  

Minister Vaz said consequent on the proposed revamping of Montego Bay Metro and expansion of the entity’s fleet, a total of eight schools will now benefit directly from the rural bus service.  

Schools currently being served include Rusea’s High, Cambridge High, Anchovy High and Knockalva Technical High Schools.  

This list will be expanded to include Spot Valley High, William Knibb Memorial High, Hopewell High and Irwin High Schools. 

 “As we continue to expand the services in western Jamaica, more schools will be served in the coming months with the incremental increase in Montego Bay Metro’s bus fleet,” Mr. Vaz said. 

The Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to purchase 10 additional buses during fiscal year 2024/25. 

“These will be dedicated to serving the students and adults in the hilly interiors of St James, Trelawny, Hanover and Westmoreland, as well as to outfit the Montego Bay City shuttle,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Vaz said the rural student transportation system requires substantial intervention from the Government. 

He said based on discussions between his Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Youth, Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) allocations have been identified to partially finance the programme. 

“Basically, the numbers are not finalised yet. But based on the numbers that I got from my Permanent Secretary, through Permanent Secretary [in the Ministry of Education], Dr. Kasan Troupe, it seems to be about between $350 million and $400 million that are allocated and earmarked for schools to help students on… PATH,” Mr. Vaz informed. 

“So, what we have to do is to try and use that, even to start a pilot project, which I had committed to do by January, and then work through the Cabinet submission with the Ministry of Finance [and the Public Service] to get the necessary subventions to be able to roll it out,” he added.