Opposition Spokesperson on Transport, Mikael Phillips, is calling on the Government to order a programme of detailed inspections of buses used in the rural school bus programme following Wednesday’s incident in Manchester, where a bus caught fire and was destroyed.
The driver had reportedly dropped off students before the incident occurred.
There were no injuries.
Phillips, in a statement on Thursday, said the incident raised serious questions about whether effective maintenance is being carried out, including periodic pre-dispatch checks, routine servicing and “D” checks, as well as whether all units are equipped with working fire extinguishers.
He said that while he is relieved that no one was injured, as the incident occurred during the summer break, the Government must satisfy the public that all buses will be inspected, properly maintained and certified roadworthy ahead of the new school year, which begins in just over a month.
The spokesman wants Transport Minister Daryl Vaz to indicate the state of the maintenance contracts with El Hydro Limited, which supplied the buses.
“…part of the justification for the high price of the units was that the supplier would be maintaining the buses to guarantee safety and maximum fleet availability.”
Phillips argued that the lives of young Jamaican students should not be put at risk.
“So while the fire investigation is ongoing, the management of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) should be instructed to begin a programme of detailed inspections of all units immediately.”
Phillips noted that not all of the buses are parked at JUTC depots and that the bus involved in Wednesday’s incident was based at Plowden in South Manchester.
“The question, therefore, arises: how often are these off-site buses checked and maintained, and is it in accordance with the company’s standard maintenance programme for high-use units?” he asked.
The Opposition spokesperson also used the opportunity to call on the Transport Minister to provide an update on the procurement, arrival and deployment of the 100 new school buses he promised earlier this year.
He said that since the announcement, the Minister has failed to provide details, even as the start of the new school year draws near.