SEVERAL WORKERS have been laid off from their jobs at the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), due to a fall-off in commuter demand following the onset of the summer holidays.

A caller to The Gleaner's newsroom on Tuesday asserted that over 150 workers, mainly drivers and conductors, were laid off last Friday. However, there was no official confirmation of the figure up to press time last night. Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Works, Dean Peart, told The Gleaner on Tuesday that he was aware of the lay-offs, but was not aware of the numbers involved.

He said that the exercise had become necessary because the demand on the bus service had been reduced, with students being on summer holiday. The State Minister noted that the drivers and conductors who worked on the school bus service operated by JUTC in the Corporate Area were hardest hit. With no real demand for the 46-bus fleet, the service has had to be suspended for the summer, putting the workers out of jobs, Mr. Peart said.

However, he emphasised that drivers and conductors in the regular bus service operated by JUTC in the eastern section of Kingston have also been affected because of the downturn in commuter demand for the summer. The Minister said that he was unable to provide further details on the issue and referred The Gleaner to Mr. Norton Hinds, chairman of the Transport Authority and member of the JUTC board of directors.

The Gleaner left numerous messages for Mr. Hinds, requesting a comment on the issue. He did not respond.

The Gleaner also sought to contact another JUTC board member, Dr. Alton Fletcher, without success.