One of the new Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses commissioned into service on Tuesday, July 15, was damaged in a stoning incident along Washington Boulevard, St Andrew, a day later.

The state-owned bus company, in a statement, has appealed to Jamaicans to desist from stoning its buses. While no one was injured in the latest incident, JUTC said it was filled with passengers at the time.

“At approximately 7:45 pm, a JUTC bus operating on Route 32B to Spanish Town via Washington Boulevard was attacked by unidentified individuals in the vicinity of Drewsland. Stones were thrown at the unit, resulting in significant damage to the front windshield. The bus was fully occupied at the time; however, no injuries were sustained by passengers,” said the bus company.

The incident has been reported to the police, and investigations are currently underway.

“This reckless behaviour not only threatens the safety of our drivers and commuters but also undermines the company’s ability to deliver reliable public transportation across the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region,” the company said.

The JUTC said areas where its buses were recently stoned include the following:

• Three Miles (Majestic Gardens); Seaview Gardens; Six Miles; Washington Boulevard to Zadie Gardens; Hagley Park Road (vicinity of Three Miles).
• St Andrew (Harbour View); Sir Florizel Glasspole Boulevard in the vicinity of the Flour Mills; Bayshore Park Bus stop; and the vicinity of the Donald Quarrie bus stop.
• In Portmore: Cumberland, Christian Gardens, Greater Portmore, Passagefort and Caymanas.

Meanwhile, Managing Director at the JUTC, Owen Ellington, has expressed grave concern about these acts of vandalism.

“We strongly condemn these attacks on our buses. Stoning buses endangers lives, damages valuable national assets, and erodes public confidence in public transportation services. We call on citizens to stand with us in protecting our commuters and urge anyone with information on the perpetrators to report it to the Jamaica Constabulary Force immediately,” he said.