According to the Jamaica Gleaner and social media posts, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, a member of the JLP, dismissed the PNP’s accusations as “false, reckless, and a desperate attempt to use our children to attain power at any and all cost”. He defended the program, stating that the buses are equipped with modern safety features and designed to handle Jamaica’s terrain.
However, reports indicate that the Trade Board, operating under the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce, has confirmed that the company awarded the contract to import 110 used school buses, Elhydro Limited, is not certified to do so. The Trade Board reiterated that preshipment inspection certificates (PSICs) are required under the 2014 policy, but disclosed that a waiver was granted for Elhydro’s importation. The JLP insists that despite the waiver, a team from the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), along with the supplier, inspected and selected the buses deemed suitable for Jamaica, according to Vaz, reported in the Jamaica Gleaner.
