JUTC RE-LAUNCHES BUS ROUTE

State Minister in the Transport and Works Ministry, Hon. Joseph Hibbert, (3rd from left) chats with members of the Seaview Gardens Citizens’ Association at the re-launch of the bus service.

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) on Monday, March 17, 2008 officially re-launched the #50 bus route in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR). Buses traversing the route will go between Seaview Gardens and the Half Way Tree Transport Centre.

In re-launching the route, there was a tour on an actual JUTC bus. This touring party was led by State Minister, Hon. Joseph Hibbert and had various other stakeholders on board. These included, Mr. Victor Green, General Manger of the Half Way Tree Transport Centre, Messrs. Kirk Finnikin and Lenworth Simms of the JUTC, Supt. Derrick Knight, head of the St. Andrew South Police as well as other officials from the Ministry, the Seaview Gardens Citizens’ Association and the Police.

The bus is expected to run between the hours of 5am – 9:30am and 2:00pm – 8:00pm.

Speaking on the tour, Minister Hibbert said that he was pleased that the route had been re-launched in that side of town and expressed the wish that all concerned will bene3fit from the service. He appealed for the citizens to take care of the buses.

Various residents of the community also expressed their delight at having a JUTC presence in their community once more. The bus service was resumed after appeals from the citizens to do so.

Also speaking on the tour was Mr. Lenworth Simms, Marketing and Sales Manager at the JUTC who said that the JUTC was pleased that it could accede to the wishes of the many commuters in the Seaview Gardens area in re-starting the service. He said that the Company would be doing everything to work along with the citizens of the area in ensuring that the service become a mutually satisfying one.

Head of the St. Andrew South Police Division, Supt. Derrick Knight also gave thumbs-up to the re-introduction of the service noting in the process that the police would be doing its part in ensuring that a safe environment exists for the service to operate.