Kandre' McDonald and Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporters
THE PRISSY little miss and the party girl archetypes aptly describe the sharp contrast between the relatively new bus in the park, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) and the previous franchises in Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region.
Many of the buses that operated under the Conurban and the National Transport Co-operative Society (NTCS) regime of not so long ago were 'dancehalls on six wheels'. The only difference between the dancehall itself and these 'mobile sessions' was that the latter lived in the fast lane - literally, that is.
Truth be told, sentiments were split down the centre with regards to the blaring music that was commonplace on these buses. It was a delight for most 'schoolers', whilst it was abhorred by many adults. During the NTCS and Conurban eras, many high school children would spend several hours on-board these 'bashment buses', since they passed their destinations to and fro many times on purpose.
THE RUNNINGS
Twenty-one-year-old Yanique, a Portmore native, is numbered among those who used to enjoy the 'runnings' on the bashment buses. "Music is a ting, it heals and when it hits you feel no pain and it used to bring people together. I mean, the number of people I met on those buses are countless," she said.
Former 'Miss Portmore', Nishka Waite, shared similar sentiments. "It was something to do, listening to the music on the buses took your mind off the discomfort, as the buses are always packed, so you can just sing two songs," she said.
On the contrary, 20-year-old Samantha Hibbert still views the bashment buses with utter disgust. "No, I don't miss them. Why should I miss them?" she asked, in a rhetorical and contemptuous tone. "The music seem to attract everybody and the bus always pack, at times up to four rows are in the bus. It was not a comfortable ride home."
According to Miss Hibbert, she has enough music at home, making null and void the need for music on board public transportation.
Nowadays, the same individuals who used to take the bashment buses for hours complain about the duration of the journey on the JUTC buses. Without a smidgen of a doubt, there are many who would love to see the return of the banished bashment buses.
On the other hand, many scoff at the mere thought.
It is ironic that while many miss the then popular mobile sessions, none interviewed by The Sunday Gleaner desired a return of the expelled bashment buses. "...The music was not right and a lot of bad things like sex usually take place on these buses," reasoned 16-year-old Cindy Armstrong, who stated that she could not have avoided boarding these buses, since they were the only option open to access her Waterhouse community.
This allegation of sexual immorality on-board public transportation, especially those that mistake deafening noise for music, is no secret. This drove fear into and angered many parents, many of whom despised the notion of allowing their children to take those 'driving sound systems'. "Every day I used to worry. So I used to select the buses that my children travelled on, so they never used to take certain buses," noted Joan Gordon, in a reflective yet still concerned tone.
Miss Gordon is now more comfortable with the present bus system and all her concerns seemed to have deteriorated in a like manner as the past set-up. "On the JUTC buses I don't have to worry about them (her children). They have some level of discipline and there is no 'boogie yagga' music; and it (JUTC) is a reputable company where you can call and lodge complaints if anything happens," she said.
Since the return of the dancehalls on wheels seems inconceivable, many are echoing that JUTC get with the music programme of old. Quite frankly, Miss Gordon, a mother of four (three girls), still thinks that there is no need for music on-board buses. "I don't want any music on them (JUTC buses), if you want to listen music stay ah yuh yard or go to a session," she said in a stern and unapologetic declaration.
Nishka, who once enjoyed the 'hype' on-board the almost extinct bashment buses was quick in reiterating similar views to that of Miss Gordon. "I don't think that they should put music in it (JUTC buses). That was then, this is now. Furthermore, there will always be a discrepancy about the type of music that should be played or how loud it should be played, so now minus the music everybody breaks even," she said.
NO WAY
Checks with the JUTC revealed that there is no way on God's green earth that music will be woven into the services offered by the regular JUTC buses. Or, rather just as long as Section 15 of the Transport Authority Regulations is still valid.
The Sunday Gleaner spoke with the acting Public Relations Officer at the JUTC, Peta-Gay Hodges, and she explained the aforementioned clause. She says that it essentially prohibits the playing of music on-board the regular buses.
"Based on the regulation, the buses that have been purchased by the Government of Jamaica do not have this facility," she said.
To the argument that people have been requesting music on-board the regular JUTC buses, Ms Hodges says she has no knowledge of the same. "The call centre has no record of such a request," she said.
It is important to note that the clause in the Transport Authority's Regulations solely applies to regular buses and not executives. It is a fact greatly appreciated by Ezroy Millwood, the president of the NTCS. "If the music wasn't there the people wouldn't take it (the executives)," reasoned Millwood, who was quick to point out that the selections on-board his executive class buses are not of the lewd variety.
CONTRARY
On the contrary, Yanique, who says she is a frequent commuter of Millwood's executives, begged to differ. "I know and maybe the owner doesn't know, but they play all kinds of music. But it depends on the time you take the bus," she said.
Millwood declared that his company has written to the drivers and conductors of the buses as to what genre of music is considered acceptable. All types of gospel music get the green light, but when it comes to secular music, he says that there are stringent policies set in place. "Spot checks are usually run and if caught people are first warned and if caught again their permit is likely to be cancelled," Millwood noted firmly.
Another form of entertainment on-board these executive-type buses is the airing of some of the most current blockbuster hits while they are still showing at the cinema. One passenger revealed that while travelling on one of these 'cinemas on wheels' recently, she was treated to the luxury of watching Bad Boys II, while Palace Amusement was still showing it.
All in all, the bashment buses have lost their first estate, and rightly so, says some people. Nonetheless, a remaining few still 'tief' a one trip on certain routes. Now, however, there is no loud music. Instead, they seemingly have their tails between their legs like a lion that has lost its roar, or a dog who has parted ways with its bark.
