$126mil security bill for JUTC

[Lazie]

Big bucks are being forked out to provide security at all Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) locations.
According to information released last week by the Office of the Contractor-General, a $124 million contract has been awarded to Protection and Security Limited.

The company will provide security services for two years.
Security concerns were raised at the JUTC in February after a mysterious fire destroyed four buses at the Portmore depot.
Losses were estimated at $36 million.

The company's Chairman Douglas Chambers was gunned down outside the Spanish Town depot on Friday.

[Lazie]

What a set a people dem yah? Damn!

[Hortical]

No choice when yuh have animals targeting officials and buses.

[Lazie]

Gov’t to decide JUTC’s fate

Cabinet will on Monday discuss the future of the government owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) following the murder of the company's chairman, Douglas Chambers.

Mr. Chambers was gunned down in front of the JUTC's Spanish Town depot on Friday during a break from a meeting with Union officials and the management of the company.

Cabinet is expected to discuss steps to continue the planned restructuring of the company that Mr. Douglas was spearheading.

Among the decisions to be reviewed is the planned redundancy of some of the workers at the company.

It is also understood that Prime Minister Bruce Golding will meet with Transport Minister and the interim chairman of the JUTC Board, Mike Henry.

Redundancies to go ahead

The JUTC is expected to go ahead with the scheduled redundancies of more than 450 workers at the company.

Communications Manager in the Ministry of Transport and Works Reginald Allen told RJR News the redundancies, which take effect Monday, are slated to go ahead as planned unless otherwise instructed by Cabinet.

"From the board's perspective, all that was to take place will carry forward in the same vein, however, they will take direction from the Cabinet and the Prime Minister," he said.

Mr. Allen said although the agreements reached in Friday's meeting were not officially signed off on due to Mr. Chambers' murder the company's position is expected to stand.

Among the workers to lose their jobs are conductors, conductresses and maintenance workers.

More redundancies possible

RJR News understands that in addition to the more than 450 workers whose jobs will be made redundant, the meeting last week also considered the fate of an additional number of drivers who declined to be trained as single unit operators.

The company wants drivers to also collect fares, making the position of conductor unnecessary.

In light of their refusal it is understood that they could be sent home.

When contacted, officials of the University and Allied Workers' Union, one of the unions representing the workers, said they could offer no comment on the matter until they officially meet with the management of the company Monday afternoon.

[Lazie]

What a set a people fi hate changes? Karl ... wha yuh affi say bout dis now?

".... the meeting last week also considered the fate of an additional number of drivers who declined to be trained as single unit operators. The company wants drivers to also collect fares, making the position of conductor unnecessary. In light of their refusal it is understood that they could be sent home."

[Time]

Transit Police would be better

Big bucks are being forked out to provide security at all Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) locations.
According to information released last week by the Office of the Contractor-General, a $124 million contract has been awarded to Protection and Security Limited.

The company will provide security services for two years.
Security concerns were raised at the JUTC in February after a mysterious fire destroyed four buses at the Portmore depot.
Losses were estimated at $36 million.

The company's Chairman Douglas Chambers was gunned down outside the Spanish Town depot on Friday.

... Lets hope that this is just a temporary two year plan. A better idea would be to create a transit police division within the JUTC. Transit Police are far more effective that private security.

[Plush]

".... the meeting last week also considered the fate of an additional number of drivers who declined to be trained as single unit operators. The company wants drivers to also collect fares, making the position of conductor unnecessary. In light of their refusal it is understood that they could be sent home."

I really had to laugh at this one....A suh much dunce wi hav inna JA? Sen di whole a dem home..U job change, u no longer can do it, gwaan back guh cut cane....JA need some really strong leaders and I hope the stupid Union Jerks stop foooling the ignorant people an dtell dem fi get in line

[Mosiah]

Argument dun!

Den mi hear dat some people wanted voluntary redundancy because dem couldn't work wid Douglas Chambers. Now dat him dead, dem nuh want di redundancy again. Oh yes!? Dem woulda haffi tek it, Chambers or no Chambers!