HENRY

Transport and Works Minister, Michael Henry, has taken steps to identify and penalise bus and taxi operators who illegally increase their fares in the lead-up to the holidays.

Henry has instructed inspectors from the Transport Authority to record the licence plate numbers of public passenger vehicles whose operators demand fares higher than the authorised amounts.

"Absolutely no fare increase has been granted to any public passenger vehicle operator over recent weeks or months," he said.

Rising gas prices

According to Henry, there have been widespread reports of illegal fare increases on a number of routes as operators try to compensate for spiralling prices at the pumps.

The Transport Minister is also urging commuters to call or write to his ministry to report such offences.

He also wants commuters to report lewd and other unprofessional services from the operators of public passenger vehicles.

Meantime, a review of the fare system is under way.

Henry is also promising that the state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company will be improved in the New Year. The bus company has been recording more than $136 million in losses a year.