By Denise Clarke and Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReportersWESTERN BUREAU:
SOME COMMUTERS in western Jamaica may already be paying increased fares, as news of a fare hike in the Kingston Metropolitan Area has triggered anxiety and confusion among the travelling public.
In announcing the fare increase to take effect tomorrow in the Corporate Area, Minister of Transport and Works Robert Pickersgill said an increase for the remainder of the island will be announced shortly. However, while some bus drivers at the Montego Bay Transport Centre said they are well aware that a fare increase has not yet been granted for rural Jamaica, others told The Gleaner that they had already instituted their own increases since Wednesday's announcement.
NAH WAIT
"Me nah wait pon government to tell me de nothing," said one bus driver, who plies the Montego Bay to Spanish Town route. "From me hear 'bout the increase, me charge dem $400 from Spanish Town yesterday (Wednesday). When me tell dem de fare, dem can either sit down or come out."
Another bus driver was adamant that he and his colleagues should not have to wait on the Government to make another announcement. He said the fare increases for rural Jamaica should have been stated in the Minister's announcement on Wednesday.
Wilbert O'Connor, who plies the Montego Bay to Savanna-la-Mar route said a fare increase is long overdue. He and his colleague Earl Chambers believe that a justifiable increase would be about 25 per cent to raise the current fare of $80 to $100 for the 32-mile journey.
"We do need a fare increase now, because so many things raise since we get the last increase. Insurance gone up, tyre gone up, gas oil go up, almost every week," Mr. O'Connor said.
Ray Robinson, who plies the Montego Bay to Ocho Rios route, said the current fare of $150 is too cheap to cover the 64-mile distance. He believes that an increase of between 20 and 30 per cent will be adequate.
For the Kingston to Montego Bay route, driver Richard Sitcharan wants the fare hiked to about $320, up from the current $260. However, his colleague, Keith Robinson, while agreeing that a fare hike is necessary at this time, expressed concerned for the travelling public, some of whom may not be able to afford an increase.
THE POOR PEOPLE
"The poor people dem who a suffer right now. When fi dem wages going to go up? That is what we want to ask the government right now," Mr. Robinson said.
Some commuters who spoke to The Gleaner are not looking forward to paying increased fares. Geraldine McKenzie, of Burnt Savannah in Westmoreland, said a fare hike is not justified at this time, and would just add to the burden of school and living expenses.
"This fare increase is very stressful to me," said one male passenger who travels between Kingston and Montego Bay up to three times a week. "It's now $260 to Kingston and sometime me can't afford that and see it a go higher now an' me out of a job."
Karl-Heinz Cunningham, who travels regularly between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, was the only passenger who supported the hike in bus fares.
"You have the police who are pressuring them (bus drivers) with tickets, some that cost up to $20,000 and the cost of fuel is ever rising," he said.
