Commuters face varying transport fares on first day of increase

After a 19-per-cent fare increase came into effect for public transport operators yesterday morning, numerous Corporate Area passengers complained that they were being charged varying fees, some not in accordance with those outlined by the Transport Authority.

While roving through the Corporate Area on Sunday, numerous commuters with whom The Gleaner spoke, said they have no other choice but to pay what the taxi operators tell them which varies between $170 to $200 per stage, up from a previously inflated $150.

In their defence yesterday, some taxi operators in downtown Kingston put forward arguments for why their costs were so varied.

Although the government granted a 35-per-cent fare increase to public transport operators which will be done in two phases — 19 per cent effective yesterday and a further 16 per cent in April next year, some have added as much as 33 per cent in this first stage.

Marlon Brown, one taxi operator on the downtown Kingston to Papine route, said he needed the raise and charges the amount he does now because of the economic demands on his pocket.

“Gas a go up! Because it’s over $200 fi a litre of gas, so mi nah go fight ‘gainst the fare increase. Mi just waa di people dem see wid wi,” Brown, who was charging $200 per stage for a ride in his robot taxi, told The Gleaner yesterday.

Another robot taxi operator, Kevin Campbell, said he would not be overcharging passengers.

“The fare was $150, but me put on $20, because the government seh 19 per cent, so mi a work with the 19 per cent. One hundred and seventy dollars me a tek now. Most drivers, some a tek $200, but me will work with the $170. Mi a work wid di government,” Campbell said.

They were both elated yesterday for the fare increase.

With regard to that, Brown told The Gleaner, “It’s a good thing the government a gwaan wid.”

Campbell said, “It beneficial to we, because it pressuring, so we appreciate the raise.”

Yesterday, some Corporate Area commuters, who are now feeling the pinch from the fare increase announced last week, said they have no other choice but to pay.

However, one passenger, who requested to remain anonymous, said he would only be be paying what the government stated.

For a tertiary level student, who would only give his name as S. Pinnock, the fare increase was unfair.

“This is crazy, and as a university student, it is really hectic on my pocket, because I am the one who is paying for my tuition, and to pay fare to come from Clarendon every day is hectic … and we can’t find places to rent.”

Making the disclosure in a statement to Parliament last Tuesday, Daryl Vaz, minister of science, energy, telecommunications and transport, said the fare hike was granted in a bid to cushion the impact of increased operational costs being borne by public bus and taxi operators.

He said the increase, which was approved by Cabinet, was arrived at through the subcommittee of the Public Transport Operators Steering Committee which was mandated to formulate a collaborative proposal for revising the current fare rates.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com

According to the Transport Authority, effective Sunday, October 15, 2023, the rates for Route Taxis will be increased by 19 per cent from a base rate of $95.00 to $113.00 and a rate per kilometer from $5.50 to $7.00.

How to calculate the fare:

Base Rate + (distance travelled in km x rate per km). Each fare once calculated is rounded to the nearest $10.

The Base Rate and Rate per km are as follows: Rates: Base Rate - $113.00

Rate for each km (Rate per km) - $7.00

Example: A passenger is travelling for 15km, the calculation would be:

113 + (15 x 7.00) = $218. The fare rounded to the nearest $10 would be $220.