JUTC ready for court
Published:Wednesday | April 30, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Sheldon Williams, Staff Reporter
THE JAMAICA Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has said it has no difficulty going to court to defend itself in light of a recent disclosure by attorney-at-law High Wildman who is representing private operators who have grouses about the reformed Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR).
"The Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited takes no issue with any individual or organisation challenging in court decisions or actions of the company as threatened by attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman at a meeting of bus and taxi associations yesterday (Sunday)," read a statement from the JUTC.
The JUTC's managing director, Colin Campbell, also asserted that the company has in no way been involved in illegal operations as it is the holder of an exclusive licence granted in 1998 for the provision of stage and express carriage services in the KMTR.
The company has been faithful to the provisions of its licence and has insisted that bus operators respect the terms of its licence.
He said had there been more diligent research of the law, the advice given to the operators would not be so far off the mark as to be bordering on the ridiculous.
"In relation to the issue of rural buses picking up passengers in the KMTR, the JUTC directs the attorney to Section 3 of the Public Passenger (KMTR) Act which states that 3- (1) The minister may grant to any person an exclusive licence (the JUTC) on such conditions as may be specified therein to provide public-passenger transport services within and throughout the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region by means of stage carriages or express carriages or both".
Campbell said in relation to the revocation of sub-franchise licences, the JUTC has revoked no licence nor does it have the authority to do so, since it is an operator and not the regulator.
"Each year, the licences issued have always been valid for a period of one (1) year, expiring on 31st March. All licences expired as a matter of course. In any given year, there are never identical applicants, and therefore, not all persons from a previous year will necessarily be operating in the following year.
"In relation to the assertion regarding the "decision to commandeer a section of the Mandela Highway for the exclusive use of the JUTC buses", the JUTC submitted its application to the appropriate authority, and was granted approval by the minister." The JUTC said the approval has been extended until December."