Jamalco Launches School Bus Service for Children in Manchester

The bauxite and alumina company, Jamalco, has launched a school bus service to transport children attending basic and infant schools in their operating areas of Asia and Mount Oliphant, and surrounding communities in Southern Manchester.
At the launching ceremony held on Monday (June 2), at the Holy Cross Basic School, Public and Community Relations Administrator at Jamalco, Pamela White said this was an initiative geared towards helping the children to get to school on time and safely.
“Today, we have launched a special programme with the Holy Cross Basic School, and it is in terms of safety and travel. Jamalco is paying for the services of a bus that will be transporting some of the toddlers here from the Mount Oliphant, Manningsfield, Rhooms Town and Asia areas to school. These are children who have had difficulty getting to school in the mornings, at least getting there safely,” she said.
“As a company, we have an increased number of vehicles on the roads, and we decided to extend this courtesy to the school. We know it’s a need, and at Jamalco we have a saying that ‘no risk is worth your life.’ And when it comes to the young ones, we know that their lives are equally important, because they are the future,” Mrs. White added.
Welcoming the move by Jamalco, Principal of the school, Adalza Smith said the programme would help to increase attendance at the institution.
“I must say that this will help to increase the attendance in our school, and it will also help the children to be here on time. I am so happy that they have chosen the areas of Manningsfield, Mount Oliphant and Asia, because those are the areas that we had problems with the children getting to school and getting back home. We hope that next term, we will get more students and they will be part of this project,” Ms. Smith said.
On hand to welcome the project were: Woman Constable Patricia Jackson, from the Asia Police, who made a presentation on safety tips for children when they are travelling; and Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Suzette Sophia-Smith.
Come September, the company will roll out the next phase of the programme that will embrace the Pratville Primary and Infant School. There are 80 students enrolled at the Holy Cross Basic School.