The Editor, Sir:

The Half-Way Tree Transportation Centre is slated to open in October of this year. The state-of-the-art facility will accommodate over 18 different route stops and an estimated 200,000 passengers on a daily basis. While we await the world-class facility, I am imploring the Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works to concurrently seek to improve our public transportation system, which includes the scheduling of bus services, the proper training of drivers and bus conductors, and a plan for proper maintenance of buses for long-term comfortable transportation.

This public transportation system is in a deplorable state. The bus drivers seem to be the most undisciplined drivers on the road (as is evident in the large number of road accidents in which those buses are involved), the buses are generally overcrowded and the timing of the service is unpredictable and unreliable. The former Minister of Transport and Works, the Honourable Dr. Peter Phillips, did a tremendous job in revamping the system with the introduction of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company. Since his departure from this ministry, the system took a nose dive and is now at the bottom of the sea.

With the advent of Jamaica's metropolitan state-of-the-art transportation centre, I am recommending that the authorities use this opportunity to revamp the system and provide a service that is conducive to production and is fit for human beings.

I am, etc.,

KEMMEHI LOZER (Mr.)

k_lozer@yahoo.com

35 Garfield Ave.,

Kingston 20