The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is projected to lose $14.8 billion this fiscal year while surviving on an $11 billion government bailout, according to Opposition Spokesman on Transport and Mining, Mikael Phillips, MP, who says the country’s public transport system is now in deep decline.

Phillips, who made his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate on Wednesday, argued that despite hundreds of new buses entering the fleet in recent years, the JUTC continues to struggle with poor fleet availability, stagnant farebox revenue, and mounting operational costs. He said the Government has failed to present a coherent long-term strategy capable of stabilising the sector or improving service delivery for commuters.

He described the JUTC as being in its “most pathetic state since it was born in 1998,” noting that the entity has accumulated more than $100 billion in losses over the past decade while continuing to depend heavily on government bailouts. “A staggering $14.8 billion loss is projected for this fiscal year alone, with the entity remaining operational only through an $11 billion government bailout,” Phillips stated.

The Opposition Spokesman also questioned the effectiveness of the Government’s current approach to route operations and fare structures, particularly amid recent tensions between private bus operators and the JUTC over routes outside the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR).

He further raised concerns about what he described as uncontrolled growth within the transport sector, pointing to a sharp increase in taxi and hackney carriage licences without corresponding investments in parking infrastructure, staging areas, or traffic management systems.

Phillips argued that the current situation has created disorder across towns and urban centres and has placed both commuters and operators under increasing strain. “The economy literally bleeds every hour,” he said. “Workers are late, students are stranded, and commerce and industry have slowed because the transport system is not functioning efficiently.”

Phillips maintained that Jamaica’s transport sector requires coordinated long-term planning rather than what he described as “patchwork fixes” and inconsistent decision-making. “The time for political rhetoric is over. Action is not optional. Jamaica needs real leadership and a real transport plan,” he said.