Perspective: JUTC Under Scrutiny, Feeding Tree For The Politically Connected?

February 5, 2021February 6, 2021 News Room

February 05, 2021 | By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |

The pandemic has been used as a mask to ignore certain glaring inefficiencies in certain state owned entities. This perspective will examine one such entity which has been chalking up billions causing a drain on the public purse. It is funded by ridership of course, but the shortfall is picked up by taxpayers from the annual budget. The pandemic has further exacerbated this rather dismal outlook for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC).

Auditor General’s Report (AG)

Stacey in blue speaks to a customer at the Transport Centre. She gives good service. These customer assistants help commuters to locate their correct bus.

The latest auditor general’s report paints a glaringly dismal outlook for the ailing state entity. Ridership has been dropping and bus roll out has been dwindling. Also (11) eleven Senior managers do not have the basic academic qualifications for the positions they hold. Not even the Managing director, based on the AG’s findings. The Personnel officer confirmed this last week as she appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. (PAC).

Spare Parts

There is the excuse that there are inadequate spare parts to keep buses rolling out of the depots. The theft of stores is also being cited.

The pandemic and social distancing has not helped. Buses no longer have any standing passengers or rather not supposed to do so. This is generally obeyed. There are big losses with that position. Coupled with the fact that schools closed and not fully reopened, some 40 percent ridership has vanished. Even with a subsidized fare, the share volume of students did help to fill the fare box. Theses subsidized fares are paid through prepaid cards.

Cashless

So the company gets these fares upfront and alleged theft or errors by say drivers is eliminated. So this is a good business model. Seniors concession fares are also prepaid and this is also a secured source of income which is insulated from theft. The other fares say adult which is a higher cash fare can easily be pilfered. This unfortunately happens. Efforts to go cashless have not materialized. This is urgent for delivery. Cashless model should not be abandoned.

Incentive

Drop adult fares and force riders to get prepaid cards. Give these non seniors a discount on their fares as an incentive to going cashless. Any losses will be recouped by prepaid model. Non cash fares would be more expensive. If you pay fare with cash, you pay more.

Customer Service

The JUTC can pride itself with reasonably good customer service. The bus crews do try. Their bathroom facilities are well maintained. As stated above their buses need more up-to-date servicing. This is a weak area. Time tabling has been a perennial problem. The protocols as they relate to the pandemic is observed. Crews wear their mask. As sanitization is done before passengers are allowed to board buses at the Transport centre. Dispensers are provided in most buses. The management is trying to be compliant with the Ministry of Health protocols. Congrats!

Commentary

Going forward a mix of electric buses and LPG would be good. LPG has been introduced. The extent is not published by the company. Their advertising and PR are up and effective.

With tighter controls on spare parts along with a revamped business model like going fully cashless could go a far way to improve the JUTC’s profitability.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie rides the buses regularly, a veteran journalist who has an International exposure