By Petulia Clarke, Staff ReporterJAMAICA URBAN Transit Company (JUTC) drivers and conductors plying several routes in the Corporate Area temporarily suspended service yesterday, to protest the shooting and injuring of a number 83 bus driver by another motorist yesterday morning.
Operations had returned to normal by evening, but in wake of the incident, the company has planned to intensify its training and counselling programme for drivers and conductors.
Leo McEwan, public relations officer in the Ministry of Transport and Works (under which JUTC falls), said yesterday that the drivers returned to work after realising that their colleague had not been killed. He said that the company has been addressing the
company has been addressing the road habits of drivers and a counselling programme was also introduced. JUTC drivers are trained at the Advanced Driver Training Centre at Lakes Pen, St. Catherine. Retraining takes place if a driver is found guilty of minor infractions, or if he or she is being promoted from the regular bus to the Articulated. Training includes courses in defensive driving and customer relations.
Mr. McEwan said the driver who was involved in yesterday's accident was treated at hospital and released.
SHOT DURING ALTERCATION
According to Sergeant Paul Reynolds, of the Constabulary Communication Network, the driver (whose name was not released) was shot once in the left thigh, during an altercation with a licensed firearm holder at the intersection of Ruthven and Half-Way Tree roads at about 9:30 yesterday morning.
"Both vehicles (the bus and a Suzuki Vitara) were proceeding along Half-Way Tree Road towards Cross Roads when on reaching the intersection, both were involved in an accident," he said. He said that the bus was in the left lane and the car was ahead in the middle lane wanting to come over to enter Ruthven Road.
"They rubbed against each other and both came out of the vehicles and started arguing," Sgt. Reynolds said. "There was a tussle and the bus driver was shot."
Sgt. Reynolds said that the driver of the Vitara left the scene and found his way to the Half-Way Tree police station, where he spent the day being interrogated. His firearm was taken from him and his hands swabbed.
Sgt. Reynolds said that charges would be filed, if the driver was found to have acted criminally. Up to last night the driver had not been charged for any crime.
