As of Sunday, October 15, persons who utilise public passenger vehicles are set to face a19 per cent increase in bus and taxi fares.

An additional 16 per cent increase is to take effect on April 1, 2024.

This announcement was made by the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport (MSETT) on Tuesday, October 10.

However, commuters who utilise the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) and the Montego Bay Metro will not see any increase in their existing fare rate.

The rate for the elderly, the disabled, and children who use the JUTC and Mobay Metro will remain at 50 per cent of the adult fare.

“The truth is some groups representing taxi and bus operators had publicly demanded a 100 per cent in fares and in excess of that figure but the Government could not acquiesce to this and had to act in a responsible and sensitive manner. In accepting a recommendation for an overall 35 per cent increase in fares and deciding to implement it on a phased basis, the Government has sought to carry out a balancing act, where the impact of the cost of living on commuters and expenses being faced by bus and taxi operators had to be taken into careful consideration,” Vaz explained.

He said the phased implementation of the 35 per cent increase over the eight-month period is a deliberate effort by the Government to cushion the impact of the cost of transportation on the travelling public.

The transport minister noted that the second phase of the increase, which is set to take effect after the tabling of the next Budget, will take into consideration the rising cost of living facing Jamaicans.

According to Vaz, the fare increase granted to non state-owned bus and taxi operators is to cover the operational costs faced by public transportation investors and improve the viability of the public transportation sector.

He also urged the heads of transportation groups and other associations to adhere to the approved rates and encouraged taxi and bus operators to wear their uniforms, display PPV badges and operate in a disciplined and orderly fashion.

The Transport Authority said it will display the rates for the fare increase in the print media.