Transport Minister: 12,000 have Benefitted from School Bus System in Portland

More than 12,000 passengers have benefitted from the rural school bus service in Portland since it was initiated in May this year.

That’s according to transport minister, Daryl Vaz.

Writing on social media platform ‘X’ on Sunday, Vaz noted that 258 schools will benefit under phase one of the programme, starting September.

Minister Vaz was due to meet with key stakeholders on Monday.

Minister Vaz says the education ministry will meet with all the schools receiving new buses.

And Minister Vaz says the Rural School Bus programme will give parents an opportunity to send all their children to school weekly.

He says transportation in rural Jamaica currently costs between $300 and $600 per child each day. Minister Vaz has announced that bus fares will be $50 per trip. Students on PATH will travel for free.

The government is intending to roll out the first phase of the programme come September, which will benefit over 300,000 students attending 258 schools.

Meanwhile, Minister Vaz is hitting back at the People’s National Party’s, PNP, criticism of the programme, labelling the opposition party as “bad mind”.

Daryl Vaz, transport minister, speaking at a Jamaica Labour Party meeting in Westmoreland on Sunday.

The PNP has criticised the planned programme, saying its untargeted.

The opposition has proposed an alternative plan where it would give 20,000 rural students $2,500 weekly to cover transportation costs.