“This aint Ferguson”: Will You be marching against the JUTC Bus Fare Increase?

by Kymberli Whittaker

On August 20, 2013, The Generation 2000 (G2K) issued a press release stating its opposition to the recently announced fare increases for the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses. Their President Floyd Green made some salient  points regarding mismanagement of funds, pillaging of pockets of those who can least afford it, etc., all of which is aimed at looking about the interests of those at the lower end of the economical strata. Admirable to say the least.

What is not admirable is the hard and fast stance taken by the JLP. They are not asking for the increase to reduced, but instead they want no increase at all. This I cannot reconcile.

I will compare JUTC to a pretty  house with a weak foundation at its base, and no furniture on the inside. Commuters are able to ride around daily in luxury in Air Condition, sitting in comfortable seats with music wafting through the speakers to provide ambiance. It looks nice on the outside, but an important question to ask is, how is this being funded?

It is important to note that drivers of their own personal vehicles in these harsh economic times, have to wind their windows down,  wishing they could turn on the A/C, and when they go to the gas pumps they  state “$500 gas please” from the pump  attendant with no shame. Times were hard last year, and it will be even harder this year.  People have accepted it.

JUTC is not making a profit, they are not even breaking even as $10,000,000.00 a day is lost just to keep the company up and running. This is tax payers money not JUTC’s money that is flushed daily as we travel up and down in A/C on buses blazoned in the National colours of our flag.

As it stands now, the government has reduced the fee for Senior Citizens to $40 from $60, as they deal with the backlash, but as a people we need to look and dissect that there is a huge problem with how the JUTC is being run.  Just recently in April of this year, the JUTC announced that they would be adding 69 new Volvo buses to its fleet by month end, providing an additional 3,657 passenger seats, also the JUTC imported 18 containers of parts since last year, in an effort to have adequate parts to maintain all its buses. These things do not pay for themselves, and we should have seen the fare increase coming from a mile away.

Is the JUTC operating above their means? Of course. But that is not the concern. We weren’t complaining when money was being spent to acquire the new buses. We dont complain when we take the buses and do not pay toll individually when travelling from Portmore. Yet the toll has to be paid with the JUTC owing millions for its daily travel. I won’t lie, it is being run like a business, for example we saw less licences being granted to outsiders in the transportation sector  in order to give the JUTC more market share, but the hemorrhage is still continuing.

PROTESTS

This is not Ferguson. Persons and Civil Society Groups have been invited to protest at a mass rally with the JLP and some have declined. Andrew Holness, the JLP Party Leader has even stated that even if he is the only one in Half Way Tree he will be standing up against it.

This is Jamaica, no lives have been lost, and we can see that even when lives are lost, we are quick to wrath but slow to action. I caution that if the party has been encouraged by the support of the protestors of the Professor who marched on his behalf, most likely they won’t be out because it is quite likely that they drive. As it stands now the $20 increase will not draw fire and brimstone from the masses. Unfortunately I do not believe that this is the proverbial straw which broke the camel’s back.

I went on a JUTC bus today, and persons were already trying to pay the $120 only to be told “Not today”. Persons have already started budgeting for it, and many will mumble and grumble but will not question it.

The protestors in Ferguson are passionate about the issue and want to see change. In other words, “dem tired and fed up”. As a people we are not tired and fed up ,because we are not asking the right questions. This problem is not one that mushroomed overnight. Why is it just coming to the fore? Are they accountable to no-one?  We are not keeping abreast of the issues while this company is being run into the ground. From what I can see looking in, an effort is being made now to salvage what they can (let us pretend to ignore the IMF agreement influencing most decisions nowadays), and as a people we have to be reasonable in our demands.

If protesting I would protest for accountability and a plan to be presented to the public to stop the hemorrhage of funds, cause as stated by the JUTC Chairman, The Reverend Dr Garnett Roper “if the provision of spare parts and maintenance of the buses were taken into consideration, it would cost the JUTC management an estimated $560 per ride to keep the units on the road”. I would not protest over the increase, because it is minimal when placed into the proper context.

Remember I said it, This $20 is only the beginning.

Reduced Access to Tertiary Education: Dilemma for the Poor

by: Kymberli Whittaker

"Do well and you will be rewarded". This is the foundation on which educational goals are set. The higher up you climb on the educational ladder, the better off you will be. Children are admonished to pass GSAT (Common Entrance in my day) in order to go to a prestigious High School; then get good results at CXC so they can either go to Sixth Form or go straight to University. 

The objective of getting good passes at Fifth and Sixth Form is to gain acceptance to University to become the famed, Doctor, Nurse, Lawyer, Teacher, and Businessman to make money and get a better life. If born “poor” or “financially strapped”, the saving grace for many in these challenging economic times is the Students’ Loan Bureau.

Children are told that the only “right” way to make it in life is to get an education. Yet it seems that this “right way” is becoming more exclusive and elusive for those who do not have the “right” pockets.

Currently, the Students’ Loan Bureau is yet to identify the 1 Billion from the 1.8 Billion needed to finance loans for students: 6000 new and 9000 returning for the academic year 2014-2015. The school year officially starts September 1, 2014…less than two weeks away.

For the academic period 2012-2013, the institution faced a significant challenge to meet the $4.2 billion needed.  In October 2012, $1.7 billion or 41 per cent of the projected $4.2 billion to be disbursed was identified at that juncture. This shortfall is obviously not a new problem, and yet here we are again, two years later, looking at the causes, pointing fingers and yet not finding any viable solutions.

The figures are disturbing as the numbers agreed to be disbursed this year is almost three times less than that in 2013. It is clear, that fewer people are receiving financial assistance from the main entity put in place to fund tertiary education for the poor, and there is less money to pay out to the reduced numbers.

The SLB's  Mission Statement is fast becoming obsolete:

“THROUGH A SUSTAINABLE REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROVIDE THE POOR AND OTHERS WITH AFFORDABLE  FINANCING FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION AND CLIENT SATISFACTION THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIAL MOBILITY AND NATION BUILDING.”

It is evident the fund is not sustainable as is, and as a result will affect the poor and "others" with a ripple effect of reducing opportunities for social mobility and nation building through an educational platform. The fund aimed to benefit the poor will not be accessible to the poor. The poor ,who once they prove their need, have to pay money to insure the loan before it can be disbursed to the institution. The poor, who have to find additional sums for boarding/ living expenses if coming from rural areas, transportation, food, books and other materials necessary  to be successful in whichever degree they decide to pursue. The poor, who simply do not have it to begin with are at a greater risk of not being granted loans to assist in their social mobility.

We are in real trouble. Again, the news of the shortfall for the year  has come at the 11^th hour.  Hall Orientation has started  at UWI as the academic term draws nigh…yet, loans are still pending.  If we as a nation are not careful, the buck will stop at CXC for more and more students.

The loan scheme is to be a revolving  fund, however, those who have received loans in the past are not contributing to the fund as desired. Some persons simply cannot afford to repay their loan at the end of their university tenure as they are yet to receive gainful employment; others are employed in jobs which once their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing are met cannot  repay the loan while others simply choose not to. The latter  borrow and repayment is not a priority.

The Students' Loan Bureau has approached the private sector for funds to assist in closing the funding gap, but without any known success as institutions are unwilling to lend to SLB without a Government of Jamaica guarantee. It is evident that SLB's current loan model cannot sustain the growing demand for student loans without considerable yearly increases in capital. And even with a hundred per cent compliance rate for repayment, on the part of borrowers, the increased demand for more student loans calls for greater capital injection in the SLB.

Jamaica’s economic climate is harsh, however one has to acknowledge that we are treading through dangerous waters, as Bachelor’s degrees are almost a dime a dozen, with several institutions offering programmes and at the end of the student’s tenure,  jobs commensurate with qualifications are hard to find. The stance taken by the Ministry of Education in prioritizing certain degrees for loan assistance probably has been a long time coming. Popular degrees such as Business Administration and Law are to feel the pinch, as relevant and under-subscribed  professions are given priority.

Students have to be strategic in career choices as it is pointless to go to school for 3-4 years only to sit at home with the same degree.

Tertiary education is becoming grossly undervalued and out of reach, so what then  can we do to secure  the future of the country.? Depending on the government and their institutions is not the way. Firstly parents need to start saving from birth to lessen the burden, as I believe that much responsibility is shafted to the state. $100 saved religiously at intervals during a child's lifetime is one way. We need to get into the culture of planning for the long-term.

The NEI Reports have shown that many students are under-performing, year after year. I believe the Government should stop paying for CXC Subjects. Great initiative but the free mentality at this level  is not heralding positive results.  The money saved can be put in funds to assist our youth who have accepted the challenge to work and make it in life.

  The Private sector also needs to step up to the plate because the environment which will be created in a few years will detract investors and prevent economic stimulation thus reducing profits and directly affecting their business. Alumni of institutions, need to step up and invest in their people and thus invest in their country. Jamaica has come a long way and as citizens we need to take a more active role in our nations’ development to prevent tertiary education from returning to the luxury it once was.