Mikael Phillips defends PNP transport plan, challenges Government to debate
/ Our Today
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Shadow Minister of Transport and Mining and Member of Parliament for North West Manchester, Mikael Phillips, has issued a direct challenge to the Government for a national debate on the future of Jamaica’s public transportation system, particularly as it relates to the rollout of a national school bus programme.
Speaking at the People’s National Party’s Manchester Parish Meeting on Sunday night, Phillips dismissed claims that the PNP opposes a school bus system and instead outlined the party’s superior, people-focused plan. “At no time did the People’s National Party say we are against transporting our children to school safely. Never. Where we differ is in how we do it, and our plan is better,” Phillips declared to resounding support from the crowd.
The shadow minister criticised the Government’s plan to purchase buses that are ill-suited for Jamaican roads, highlighting the JUTC’s current financial strain and the potential burden of added maintenance costs. He pointed to the inefficiency of the current system, where buses remain underutilised and parked for long hours during the day.
“They say they can move 4,000 students a day. We say we can move 20,000,” he said. “While they plan to flood the system with government-owned vehicles, we will empower responsible, existing transport operators by supporting them to upgrade their fleet and serve students across the country.”
Phillips argued that the PNP’s model not only provides a greater reach for student transport but also protects the livelihoods of small and medium transport providers who risk being displaced by the Government’s model. “Let us take the man who has a Voxy and help him upgrade to a 30-seater. Let us build on what’s already there, instead of wasting taxpayer money on buses that will sit unused or break down quickly,” he explained. “We’re not just building a school bus system, we’re building an economy that includes and uplifts everyone.”
The PNP’s plan includes providing a subsidy for families who are not on the PATH programme but are still in need of transportation support, extending help to the many Jamaicans who fall between the cracks of the current system.
Phillips closed with a warning about the real human cost of poor planning by the Government. “Under the JLP’s model, many transport operators will be pushed out. Some will lose their vehicles. Some will lose their homes. That is unconscionable. We must do better.”
The shadow minister reaffirmed the PNP’s commitment to creating a more equitable and effective public transport system, built on empowerment, efficiency, and common sense.
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