Following a recent incident which left five buses damaged and two people injured, there have been growing concerns within the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) for the security of its staff and passengers.

During the incident in Three Miles, St Andrew, stones were thrown at the buses, damaging the windshield, causing fragments to wound the driver and a female passenger. The incident is believed to be led by a former employee who was let go by the company.

According to Cecil Thomas, corporate communications manager at at the JUTC, Three Miles alone has recorded 29 incidents of this nature this year, with 19 occurring last month.

Discussions around alleviating the problem have already begun and could lead to improvements in the security provided for the JUTC’s staff, passengers and the buses the company operates.

Said Thoms: “With less than two months to go before the close of the year, there are 69 stone-throwing incidents. The windshield and side glass were mainly damaged in these incidents.”

Last year saw 63 stone-throwing incidents in total.

With this issue being a constant over the years, the company has launched several initiatives to limited avail.

Managing Director Paul Abrahams, in an emergency staff meeting on Wednesday (November 10), said damage to the buses at the location required special security intervention. He further instructed that more strident measures be carried out, including private security contracts and the use of technology.

“We have to take some bold decisions as the vandalism of our buses in quick succession is affecting our operations and our ability to serve the commuting public. These attacks seem to be deliberate and coordinated and, as such, we must further engage the Police High Command with a view to immediately arresting this serious problem,” Abrahams shared.

Abrahams stated that the company would engage a private security contractor who will provide mobile patrol, especially in some hot spot areas. Although the company is in a tight financial stop, reports are that this process in already under way.

Talks of temporarily suspending the service in these areas has been put on hold, as the company seeks to calculate the number of persons who would be affected by the decision.

Hot spot areas include Three Miles, Marcus Garvey Drive, Bull Bay, Spanish Town Road, Windward Road and Vauxhall High School.