Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says that the Government plans to engage members of the private sector to improve infrastructure at the Falmouth transport centre and other rural centres across the island.

The announcement follows his recent visits to transport centres in Ocho Rios, Falmouth, and Portland, where he accessed the wait time for commuters and infrastructure.

During his remarks in Parliament on Tuesday (January 30), the minister said the conditions at the transport centres are unacceptable.

“It pains my heart and my soul when I go to these transport centres and see what the commuting public has to go through. I see persons, and I interact with persons who are of age, who have health conditions, and there is no seating, and there is no covering from the elements,” said Vaz.

He noted that these centres do not fall under his remit as Minister of Transport. Instead, they are the responsibility of the municipal corporations. However, he said that the municipal corporations do not have the resources needed to improve transportation infrastructure.

“I am going to put together, with the Ministry of Local Government, to do some public-private partnerships to allow persons who can benefit from the 20,000 people going through Falmouth on a daily basis to use their branding through advertising to be able to put up the shelters, put up the seating, put up the lights and put up the facilities in and around the transport centre, so that people can do other business there while they’re waiting on the buses,” said Vaz.

Additionally, the minister said he will soon announce plans to improve the rural bus system for students.

The rural school bus system aims to create a safer and more affordable way for children living in rural Jamaica to travel to school. It also aims to reduce absenteeism and lateness and contribute to reduced truancy.