Free School Bus Service to Benefit Rural Students in St. Thomas
The Holness administration continues to expand its commitment to equitable education access with the introduction of seven new school buses designated for rural communities across the parish of St. Thomas.
This programme will provide free, reliable transportation to students in some of the most remote parts of the parish.
Speaking on Thursday (May 15) at the historic opening of the Morant Bay Urban Centre, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness announced the expansion of the service, noting that it will directly ease the financial burden on families and improve punctuality and attendance for students in St. Thomas.
The Prime Minister said: “You are going to get seven school buses that will be serving some of the remote areas of the parish, and I’m certain that the children of this parish will be very happy to be able to use those buses, and of course, those buses will be free of cost to them in terms of bus fare.”
The government recently introduced two Jamaica Urban Transit Company, JUTC, routes in the parish. The public bus service in the parish has moved over 100,000 passengers in just under four months.
Commuters have praised the system for its efficiency and cost savings.
“It is saving them, it is saving them bus fare, improving their convenience, and it is operating on time. But more is to come,” said Prime Minister Holness.
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader vision to transform St. Thomas through improved infrastructure, transportation, housing, and public services.