Dr Christine Hendricks, executive director for the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), says the Government has failed to deliver on its promise to make the 50 new buses earmarked for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) accessible for persons with disabilities.

Her comments follow reports from Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz that only five of the 50 buses will have reduced seating capacity to facilitate the comfortable transportation of members of the disabled community.

“It is good. But I thought that all 50 would have been accessible because that is what we were informed by the JUTC team, that all 50 would be able to facilitate persons with disabilities. Although we’re grateful for the five [buses], the 50 would be more beneficial and less stressful on the community of people with disabilities,” said Hendricks.

She added that the 45 buses can cater to people who do not have physical disabilities, but more buses are needed generally to cater to persons with physical disabilities, especially in rural areas.

“The availability of public transport, particularly in the rural areas, is extremely challenging and sometimes not all drivers want to take a person with a disability. I know that we may not have government buses in every parish, but we are looking forward to transportation being generally accessible,” said Hendricks.

She further noted that persons with physical disabilities in rural areas are often forced to pay an additional fee to hold their wheelchairs and are often discriminated against by drivers who refuse to carry them in their vehicles.

Additionally, they face challenges getting in taxis and other vehicles to reach their destination.

Hendricks noted that persons who have been discriminated can make reports and seek redress through the Disability Tribunal . Nevertheless, she said more efforts are needed to ensure persons with disabilities are not discriminated against.

She added that transportation in Jamaica overall is an issue that needs to be addressed, and she looks forward to the improvement of the sector.

The long-awaited 50 JUTC buses arrived on August 25, after they were delayed more than three months due to cargo and weather-related issues. The fleet of buses, inclusive of five electric buses and 45 diesel buses, were initially set to arrive at the end of May this year.