MORE BUSES FOR JUTC IN 2010

BY: ALPHEA SAUNDERS

Some of the new buses that were bought for the JUTC in 2010.

The Ministry of Transport and Works continued to increase and upgrade the fleet of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) in 2010, as the Government sought to improve the service offered to the travelling public.

One hundred new state-of-the-art Volvo buses from Belgium were officially handed over to the JUTC in 2010, with 50 buses handed over in June and another 50 buses later in the year.

The 53-seat units are equipped with fire safety devices and cameras, among other features. One outstanding feature of the new buses is the cashless system, which provides commuters with JUTC Smart Cards bearing personal details, including a photograph.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in June, Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Michael Henry said the JUTC had come a far way, improving its general level of service across the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region.

The bus company’s ridership is expected to increase from 52 million to 62 million commuters this fiscal year.

Meanwhile, representatives of Incavel Omnibus E Pecas, the Brazilian firm which rehabilitated a badly damaged 2002 Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus, visited in April to assess the performance of the bus, after a 90-day trial period.

The rehabilitation of the Volvo B7R 45-seater bus, including the addition of an air-conditioning unit, was done at a cost of $12.8 million.

Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Mike Henry (right), swipes his personalised Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Smart Card aboard one of the new Volvo buses. Managing Director of the JUTC, Paul Abrahams observes.

The repair job came with an eight-year operational lifespan for the bus, which compares with a 10-12 year operational lifespan for the new Volvo buses purchased from Belgium last year. The new buses cost approximately $36 million each.

At roughly a third of the cost of the new buses, the Incavel option represents an attractive avenue for the JUTC to significantly increase its serviceable fleet, through gradual rehabilitation of hundreds of its old and out-of-service units which the company had formerly earmarked for disposal as scrap metal.

Improving the island’s Airports

Early in the year, the Minister opened MBJ Airports Limited’s new domestic terminal at the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay, and launched Jamaica Air Shuttle, a new domestic inter-island air service.

Mr. Henry stated then that the airport development programme was just part of the multi-modal transportation policy of the Ministry, which involves the development and connectivity of road, sea, rail and air transportation sectors.

In July, Mr. Henry signed a $19.9 million contract for the construction of two control towers at the Norman Manley and Sangster International Airports, as part of the Government’s plan to expand Jamaica’s aviation industry.

The contract was signed at the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority’s (JCAA) offices in Kingston, with Canadian contractor, Intelcan Technosystems Incorporated.

Mr. Henry emphasised that the new towers would further the government’s aim of making both international airports significant air transit hubs.

Intelcan is a global leader in the provision of air traffic management systems for civilian and military applications.

The company was chosen to undertake construction at both airports in light of the efficiency gains and cost savings that could accrue from having one entity conduct design and construction, using the same team and equipment operating in a parallel mode.

The project is being implemented in phases, with construction in Montego Bay scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2011 and construction in Kingston for the fourth quarter of 2012. The JCAA proposes to finance the project by using 65 per cent internal funds and 35 per cent loan financing.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Free Air Policy received a boost from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Conference in July 2, with the signing of 15 Air Service Agreements with member states.

The conference, which was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Montego Bay from June 28 to July 2, hosted over 150 delegates from 40 member states, who participated in over 200 meetings. Over 60 Air Service agreements and arrangements were signed during the conference.

As part of ongoing efforts to boost the viability and profitability of the local aviation sector, the government removed the fees from services provided by the JCAA to commercial air operators, who fly to Jamaica. This followed a waiver on charges to operators of small aircrafts, which was announced by the Government in February. The fees that were removed include those for air navigation, communications, air operators’ certificates, and a number of other charges contained in the 22nd Schedule of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Regulations.

The decision followed Cabinet’s approval of a submission by Minister Henry, to implement a US$8.00 Passenger Aviation Service Charge, which took effect in the second quarter of the 2010/2011 financial year.

Passengers will be required to pay US$4 on each one-way international ticket. The system is said to be similar to that used by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which charges 7.5 per cent on the base fare of each ticket sold.

The JCAA pointed out that this transfer of fees to passengers is not new, as passengers already pay these charges in their ticket costs.

The JCAA projects an increase in air commerce as a result of the removal of these fees, which will make Jamaica a more affordable destination for airlines. It is further estimated to boost the viability of the airports as well as the country’s tourism sector.

Mid-year, the Bahamian-owned Western Air, launched its inaugural direct flight from Sangster International Airport, to the Linden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas.

The launch came on the heels of major successes with its inaugural Kingston route. Western Air, the largest privately owned airline in the Bahamas, responded to several calls by Jamaicans who are living in the country, due to the void left by Air Jamaica that had earlier suspended that route.

Rolling out the Weigh Scale

The Ministry also sought to play its part in protecting the island’s road network and promoting safety on the roadway, with the vehicle weight enforcement system.

A $100 million contract was signed in February with Tankweld Construction Company Limited to construct a fixed weigh scale station at Harbour View, St. Andrew, by the Minister.

The Ministry’s Vehicle Weight Enforcement Programme, launched in December 2009, involves the establishment of fixed scales at strategic locations across the island. These include areas in Trelawny, St. Mary and St. Catherine, in addition to Harbour View.

Approximately two months after rolling out the Programme, the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) was expressing satisfaction with the level of compliance.

Speaking with JIS News, Director of the ITA, Paul Clemetson singled out Caribbean Cement Company as one entity that has given its full backing to the initiative.

“What we have observed is that Carib Cement, as a leader in the process, ensures that no vehicle is laden with weight in excess of their legal limit,” he noted.

Mr. Clemetson noted that of the over 100 vehicles checked in six road operations up to that time, 18 truckers were prosecuted for conveying excess loads.

Developments in the Maritime Sector

On February 4, history was made when the Port Authority of Jamaica officially welcomed one of the largest container ships globally, the Zim Antwerp, on its maiden voyage to the island.

The vessel, which docked at the Kingston Container Terminal’s (KCT) Western Berth, Port Bustamante, is part of a fleet of ships operated by the Israeli company, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Limited. The company has been operating in Jamaica close to 40 years and is the oldest client of the KCT, utilising its facilities since they opened in 1975.

One of a new line of container ships playing an increasing role in global cargo shipping, the Zim Antwerp is capable of carrying some 10,062 20-foot Container Equivalent Units (TEUs). The Ministry and the Port Authority welcomed the ZIM Antwerp to the island again, in August.

During the review period, the new Caribbean Transshipment Hub was officially launched, with a ceremony held on board the ‘Höegh Caribia’ at Kingston Wharves.

The hub, previously sited in San Juan, Puerto Rico has been relocated to Jamaica and terminal operations will now be facilitated and managed by Kingston Wharves Limited.

Meanwhile, final year seafaring students and graduates of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), were provided with certificates of competency from the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), and given the opportunity to expand their skills through the introduction of a new course, ‘Mastering Yacht Life’.

The course, offered through the collaboration of the CMI, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, HEART Trust/NTA’s Enterprise Based Training (EBT) Department and Luxury Yacht Group, was the first of its kind in Jamaica, and began with 20 students. The course aims to improve the skill sets of participants, to enable them to operate effectively and efficiently aboard luxury yachts.

Director General of the MAJ, and Chair of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Standards of Training and Watchkeeping Sub-Committee, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, said that the course was timely, as it complemented the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) standards and responds to the demands of the market.

June saw the Director General being elected to chair the June 21 to 25 STCW Diplomatic Conference, in Manila, Philippines. This was the first time Jamaica was elected to chair the conference.

Safer Roads

At the end of December 2010, the Road Safety Unit of the Ministry reported a reduction in the number of persons killed in road accidents. Some 309 persons died last year, 38 less than the 347 who lost their lives in 2009.

This reduction resulted from the sustained campaign by the Unit to reduce traffic accidents, in collaboration with the Traffic Department of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).