I was most grateful to see new Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses on the road gleaming with the brilliant colours of the national flag. This, together with the exceptionally clean interiors, padded seats and an air-conditioning system that probably rivals the cold winds of Canada, all provide a delightful experience that I believe many Jamaicans would like to preserve.

Tidiness, prestige short-lived

However, I am afraid that the tidiness and prestige of these buses might be short-lived. First, it is obvious these new buses were not designed to carry standing passengers. Yet, they are being used daily to transport an overwhelming number of standing passengers. This practice leaves such passengers with the only option of holding on to places they are not supposed to, which has resulted in damage to the buses' interior.

Second, schoolchildren, particularly those at the secondary- and high-school levels, are being allowed to ride the buses. Of course, nothing would have been wrong with that if they were properly behaved; however, they are not. Not only do they often board the buses playing some of the most disgusting music loudly on their cellular phones, but they have already begun to deface the new buses with graffiti!

We must act now to save our buses or else the acquiring of them would have been a complete waste and we will lose them in no time at all.

We should re-route the students on to designated buses and we must stop overloading the new buses with standing passengers, as this has proven highly destructive.

I am, etc.,

PATRICK CHAMBERS

kevinspeed2000@yahoo.com

Kingston 20