THE EDITOR, Sir:

The Half-Way Tree Transportation Centre is slated to open in October of this year with state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate over 18 different route stops and an estimated 200,000 passengers on a daily basis. While we await this facility, I am imploring the Minister of Housing, Transport, Water and Works to seek concurrently, 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.

The public transportation system is in a deplorable state. The bus drivers seem to be the most indisciplined drivers on the road (as evidenced by 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.

I am recommending that the authorities provide a service that is conducive to production and is fit for human beings.

I am, etc.,

KEMMEHI LOZER

Kingston 20