Several Jamaican transport operators have withdrawn their services in response to sections of the Road Traffic Act, as well as issues with the Government’s move to clamp down on outstanding traffic tickets, among other concerns.
The One Voice Transportation Group announced it will cease operations to send a message to the government amid their complaints.
The group’s President and Director of Communication, Lorraine Finnikin, advised commuters of the protest during a meeting on Sunday.
“We want to say to the public that we cannot guarantee normality come Monday, and we are sorry for the inconvenience that you will face, but not until we take industrial action, not just in the public transportation sector, but in every sector, only when we take industrial action we are heard,” Finnikin said.
Among the concerns raised by the transport operators are exorbitant ticket fines, the suspension of licenses after paying fines, the lack of designated taxi parking spots and stops, and the compulsory use of wreckers only for towing vehicles.
Meanwhile, some commuters from sections of St Catherine were left stranded waiting on taxis on Monday morning.
President of the Spanish Town Taxi Association Aaron Mattis said the members of his group support the strike due to concerns surrounding the requirement of child seats in the new Road Traffic Act.
“There needs to be a definitive ruling on this critical issue and to leave it to the police discretion is not enough,” Mattis said.
While some taxis have withdrawn their service, bus drivers were operating normally in some areas.
