THE EDITOR, Sir:
MY EXPERIENCE with JUTC conductors and drivers has been a mixed one. However, this was changed last night, November 19, 2003, at approximately 9:51 p.m.
A group of us were travelling towards Mona, when upon approaching the stop light at the intersection of Lady Musgrave and Old Hope roads, the driver stopped at the stoplight, which was on red. Behind the car was a (route) number 61 JUTC bus licensed PA0044 and labelled 98G3114, who kept on blowing his horn even though the light was on red. When the light changed to green, the driver of the JUTC bus overtook the car, forced it off the road and into a plaza. It took us a few minutes to collect ourselves as to what just happened.
However, this was not all. On Old Hope Road, in the vicinity of the 4H Club Headquarters, the same JUTC bus overtook a car and forced another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction to take refuge on the sidewalk.
The third offence was the running of the red light at the intersection of Hope, Barbican and Old Hope roads (Matilda's Corner) followed by a race with a Toyota Prado along Hope Road in the vicinity of KFC all the way up to the stoplight at Hope Boulevard and Hope Road. It was obvious that the JUTC driver was trained at Dover, and was taught, 'race on the road not at Dover'.
My first reaction was to call the JUTC in the morning to complain, however, I remember calling the hotline to report a conductress who throw coins at me that I had used to pay my fare. The conductress stated that she was not accepting any brown coins. My call to the JUTC hotline was further frustrated by the person answering the phone, who could not comprehend a word of the Queen's English.
After that experience, I strongly believe that any harsh treatment that JUTC crew receive they deserve. If I turn on my TV and saw on the news where another JUTC conductor or driver was severely abused, it would have the same effect as waking up one morning and seeing a dead rat in the yard.
I am, etc.,
RICARDO RICHARDSON
rick_jam@yahoo.com
Kingston 6
Papine, St. Andrew
Via Go-Jamaica
