If The Jamaica Urban Transit Company is granted a fare increase at this time, as it has requested, such a move could and should only be interpreted as rewarding incompetence, and the working class of this country can't afford that kind of luxury any more.

There is only one excusable reason why a business should fail and that is if existing [note, not available] market share renders the viability of the business unsustainable.

That is far from what is happening to the JUTC. Over the years the company has failed to put in place the kind of management with the requisite skills to craft a sustainable development plan for the company, choosing rather to appoint persons whose competence in that area is very questionable. All of this is done because whenever they need to augment the cash flow of the company they can just ask the commuting public to pay more.

60-minute wait

How could the JUTC have the nerve to ask commuters to pay more on the basis that it needs to increase its cash flow when it has become common practice for commuters to be waiting on a bus at the transport centre in Half-Way Tree for up to 50 and 60 minutes, only to get frustrated and leave and take a robot or a route taxi, who know how to be on time for their passengers.

The frightening incompetence of JUTC management came to me in the most forceful manner recently when after waiting for a 21A for nearly one hour, [and this was peak hour, 5:25 pm] I went to enquire from a managerial staff member what was happening why the buses were so much behind time, only to be told that my query was nonsensical because how could he stay at the centre and tell me what was happening on the road.

I am confident that if the JUTC puts competent management and staff in place, the company could easily say goodbye to budgetary support. The market exists for this to happen and the JUTC should take full advantage of it.

I am, etc.,

CASHLEY BROWN

Cashleybrown.investorschoic

@cwjamaica.com