JUTC to Forgo $40M in Two-Month Free Rides For Students

Forty million dollars!

That’s how much revenue the Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, will forgo in order to allow students to ride free on all its buses for the months of September and October.

The estimate was given by Transport Minister, Daryl Vaz on Nationwide This Morning on Monday.

The announcement of the free rides was made by Prime Minister, Dr. Andrew Holness at the JLP’s mass rally in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew on Sunday.

It applies to primary and high school students, as well as tertiary students with IDs.

The Transport Minister says the move will not cost taxpayers a thing.

Meanwhile, Minister Vaz says he has tried his best to time the testing of the buses to avoid controversy about the politicization of the school bus programme.

Daryl Vaz, Transport Minister.

In the meantime,

Tertiary students with a Grade Point Average of 2-point-5 or higher can apply for lower interest rates at the Students’ Loan Bureau.

That’s according to Prime Minister, Dr. Andrew Holness.

Dr. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister.