Pickersgill Hands Over 24 New Buses to JUTC

Some 24 new buses, to be used to transport persons to and from Sabina Park and the Trelawny Multi-purpose stadium, during the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC), were handed over to the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), today (March 9), by Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Robert Pickersgill.
The buses, which were acquired from the Government of Belgium, will go into regular service after Cricket World Cup, to boost the service to regular commuters.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Kingston, the Minister emphasized that these buses were an indication of the government’s commitment to provide quality service to Jamaicans and visitors alike.
“These buses meet the high standards of the transit industry.the superstructure and side panels of the buses are of best quality, European stainless steel.
We are of the opinion that all our clients, not just those coming for World Cup but the citizens of this country, are worthy of first class treatment,” he said.
Mr. Pickersgill further noted that as part of the effort to improve service to regular commuters and visitors, the JUTC has trained some 95 drivers, who have been selected to transport patrons to Sabina Park and the Trelawny multi-purpose stadium during Cricket World Cup.
The Minister added that training was expected to continue even after the tournament. “We intend to continue this level of training with a focus on customer relations, beyond our hosting of Cricket World Cup 2007,” he said.
He appealed to commuters and the JUTC staff to take good care of the buses. “Please treat these vehicles in a caring and responsible manner, indeed as if it were your own. In fact, it is your own, so always remember that. Drivers please drive with due consideration on the road.. please preserve the buses,” he urged.
Meanwhile, President of the JUTC, Ryan White assured the Minster that the buses would be maintained in the best possible condition. “These beautiful buses that we have received will remain in the fleet in pristine condition. We have already made plans as to how we are going to deal with them, separate and apart from all the other buses out there. We will take good care of them,” he stated.
Since 1995, the Government has purchased over 300 buses from Belgium, to improve the quality of public transport.
The opening ceremony for CWC 2007 will be held at the Trelawny Multi-purpose stadium on March 11.
Jamaica will host six first-round matches, including the opening match of the tournament at Sabina Park on March 13, which will see the West Indies playing Pakistan. In addition, Jamaica will host a semi-final match on April 24.