Rural transportation system for children coming next year

The Government will be rolling out a pilot programme for the rural transportation system for students early next year.

Responding to a question at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in St Andrew, Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz, said the pilot should commence during the first quarter of next year. Vaz said a meeting to present the outline of the rural transportation system specific for schoolchildren was slated for yesterday.

"Once that is made, I will then get the Ministry of Education [and Youth] involved and I will be in a position to announce when the pilot project will start because we have to do a pilot to make sure that it works seamlessly," the minister said.

"My intention is no later than the first quarter of next year, which is January to March, we should be in a position to roll out a pilot, and more details will become available but it is a top priority. It has to be done right and it has to be done in collaboration with the existing bus, taxi operators, private sector and, of course, the government agencies and ministries," he added. Vaz said the parishes for the roll-out have not yet been finalised, adding that data will be used to guide the decision.

The minister also expressed sympathies to the families, friends and the school community of Zackeal McIntyre and Ajani Robinson, following their deaths in a motorbike accident early Tuesday morning, and other recent road deaths. The students attended Petersfield High School in Westmoreland.

"My sincere condolences on behalf of the Government in relation to the deaths of two schoolchildren ... plus what transpired last week with the five [along the Bluefields main road, also in Westmoreland]. So, the truth is that it is not only about the schoolchildren," he said. Among the victims in the Bluefields crash was 15-year-old schoolgirl Lavecia Forrester, a schoolmate of McIntyre and Robinson at Petersfield High.

As of November 22, the Road Safety Unit reported 367 road fatalities, resulting from 333 fatal collisions. Vaz reiterated that safety on the roads is a top priority for the Government. Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information, Robert Morgan, urged Jamaicans to be safe on the roads, noting that the Government has spent a lot of time and resources to improve road safety.