COPELAND
FIVE RURAL Western Jamaica high schools have described the beleaguered Montego Bay Metro Company Limited's school bus service as all but indispensable, and are appealing for the service to be upgraded and expanded quickly.
The schools - Cambridge High, Rusea's High, Spot Valley High, Muschett High and Kenilworth Academy - made their appeal in a joint statement today.
This has come despite explanations from Montego Bay Metro's general manager, Mr. Anthony Copeland, that a serious cash flow problem, lack of spare parts, and vandalism of the buses by students themselves is curtailing its service in six areas, using only 13 of the company's 28-bus fleet.
Montego Bay Metro closed its doors to the public on March 31 of 2003, laying off most of its 80 workers. At that point it had been operating at a loss of $2 million a month.
Later that year the service was restarted on a much more limited scale and the service was subsequently expanded in response to the demands from schools in St. James.
The school heads maintain that Montego Bay Metro - which is supervised by the Ministry of Transport - continues to provide a good, service, which has lessened unpunctuality and is far more reliable and affordable than taxis and robots. Furthermore, parents are relieved that students travelling on the buses are not exposed to the issues afflicting the wider public transport system.
DESPERATLY NEEDED
But some students still refuse to travel on the buses, preferring instead, to use more expensive cars and minibuses, "for their own, private reasons, " observers report.
Vice principal of the Muschett High School in Wakefield, Trelawny, Mrs. Millicent Gray, says her institution "desperately" needs the Montego Bay Metro. Muschett High, with an enrolment of 1,576 students, is plagued by late arrival and bad roads. Classes begin at 6.50 a.m. - but even at 8 o'clock, students are still trickling in.
Principal of the Cambridge High School in St. James, Mr. Rhudal McFarlane, says his school is encouraging students to take the buses - and they are responding. He tells them it is a cheaper, more punctual and a safer way to travel.
INADEQUATE UNIT
Cambridge High is serviced by one unit, but Mr. McFarlane says it is "vastly inadequate." He would like to see at least one more bus on his route, to ply such districts as Catadupa, Lamb's River, Chester Castle, Marchmont and Retrieve, which combine to account for roughly 60 per cent of Cambridge High's 1,709 students.
Academy manager at the HEART Trust/National Training Agency (NTA) Kenilworth Academy near Sandy Bay in Hanover, Mrs. Leonie Dunwell, says Montego Bay Metro is providing a "critical" service for her institution. Eighty per cent of her 500 students, most coming from neighbouring Montego Bay, use the bus.
Mrs. Dunwell adds: "We depend very heavily on the service provided by Montego Bay Metro. It is crucial for punctuality, and getting our students off campus, after classes. The company is very, very receptive to us, and I hope and trust their service will continue, because it is a great and tremendous help to us."
Mr. Donaldson H. Bernard, principal of Rusea's High School in Lucea, the Hanover capital, says the school bus system has significantly cut the late arrival rate at Rusea's, and Mr. Bernard would like the system expanded, if possible.
Spot Valley High School, near Rose Hall in St. James, does not have the school bus service - but principal, Miss Doreth Chambers, has made a plea for the amenity. In a letter from November 18 to Mr. Copeland, Miss Chambers wrote: 'The parents, students, teachers board of directors, and community partners of Spot Valley High School are making a profound appeal to you, to provide transportation for our students.'
