Mark Golding Dismisses School Bus System—But Is Jamaica Ready to Go Back to Robot Taxis?
July 6, 2025 | Jamaica Live News Desk
Opposition Leader Mark Golding has sparked national debate after signaling his intention to dismantle the Government’s national school bus system, criticizing the fleet as “old buses” and hinting at a return to the days when schoolchildren were left in the hands of private taxi operators.
Golding’s comments come despite growing public support for the structured school transport initiative introduced under Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ administration. The school bus program was developed to address longstanding concerns over student safety, affordability, and reliability, especially in rural and underserved communities.
For decades, thousands of Jamaican students, some as young as five years old, have been forced to navigate the chaotic and often dangerous public transportation system. Many relied on unregulated taxi drivers, often packed into illegal “robot” taxis with no seatbelts, no monitoring, and no accountability.
The introduction of the school bus system aimed to correct that — providing dedicated, supervised, and subsidized transport to and from schools. The Ministry of Education, in partnership with municipal corporations, rolled out the initiative in phases, with priority given to areas with high demand and risk.
But Golding’s recent dismissal of the program has drawn sharp criticism from parents, educators, and members of civil society.
“Every civilized country has a national school bus system for underage children,” said one concerned parent in Clarendon. “Why would we go back to taxis when we’re finally moving forward?”
Critics of Golding’s position argue that scrapping the bus system would be a reckless regression, especially given Jamaica’s road safety issues and the high number of accidents involving public passenger vehicles.
Transportation Minister Daryl Vaz responded to the comments, saying, “We will not allow the Opposition to drag us backward. Our children’s safety is not negotiable.”
The debate now places a critical question before the nation:
Should we invest in and improve the school bus system — or abandon it altogether and return our children to the mercy of the road?
A Tragic History
In 2013, following the horrific September 25 crash along the Chudleigh main road in Manchester that claimed the lives of four Holmwood Technical High School students and injured several others, then-Education Minister Rev. Ronald Thwaites called on schools across Jamaica to establish community-based school transport systems. The incident exposed the dangers of leaving children to depend on overcrowded, informal public passenger vehicles.
“We cannot continue to leave our children’s safety in the hands of unregulated taxis and robot drivers,” Rev. Thwaites warned after the tragedy. “Holmwood’s example must be followed islandwide.”
That moment triggered a renewed national conversation on student transportation. It planted the seeds of what would later evolve into today’s Rural School Bus System, launched and expanded under Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz.
🚌 What the Rural School Bus System Offers
Contrary to Golding’s dismissive comments, the program is far from obsolete. In fact, 270 new school buses have been purchased since 2023, according to Minister Vaz. The buses are being actively tested, serviced, and retrofitted to ensure full safety compliance ahead of the 2025–2026 school year.
The program now includes:
✅ Flat fare of $50 for all student trips
✅ Exclusively for students (“Schoolaz Only”)
✅ CCTV and security features for monitoring
✅ Technology-enabled tracking systems
✅ Service across all 14 parishes
✅ Operations restricted to school hours only
✅ Smaller, more agile buses for interior and rural routes
In addition to safety, the Government also lowered student fares for the first time in decades, making the service more accessible to low-income families.
“We’re not only making transport safer,” Minister Vaz said. “We’re also making it fairer and more affordable for parents who have struggled for years.”
⚠️ Golding’s Comments Spark Concern
Golding’s suggestion that the system is obsolete and should be replaced with taxis has alarmed parents and school officials alike.
“Our children died because they were packed into public passenger vehicles with no accountability,” said a retired principal in Manchester. “We bled for this change. Now we want to go backward?”
Many have described Golding’s position as not only politically reckless but also disrespectful to the memory of those lost in past transportation tragedies. For some, it represents a dangerous detour from progress.
A Return to the Chaos of Taxis?
Mark Golding’s position, suggesting that the school bus program is unnecessary or substandard, has sparked alarm among parents and educators.
“So we’re going to abandon a structured, government-run transport system for taxis? That’s what we’re going back to?” said Marsha Thompson, a parent in St. Mary. “These aren’t just old buses — they’re being refurbished and safety-tested. What matters most is our children getting to school safely.”
Thousands of Jamaican students were forced to rely on unregulated taxi operators — often overcrowded, underinsured, and operating outside of legal and safety standards. Incidents of children being stranded, overcharged, or endangered were common.
The Holness administration’s plan to phase in a national school bus fleet was a response to these dangers, offering:
- Monitored and GPS-equipped buses
- Trained drivers and supervisors
- Reduced travel costs for families
- Safer commuting conditions for underage students
🇯🇲 A National Standard, Not a Luxury
Structured school transportation is a basic standard in every developed country—from yellow buses in the U.S. to subsidized shuttles in Canada and the UK. Jamaica’s attempt to provide a similar service is not a novelty—it is a step toward modernization.
The program also plays a critical role in keeping students in school by reducing absenteeism linked to unreliable or unaffordable transportation.
“Mark Golding needs to clarify,” said a St. Elizabeth teacher. “Does he believe robot taxis are the future for our schoolchildren? Or is he out of touch with what parents are facing?”
🗳️ Politics vs Progress
As the political season heats up, Golding’s statement is drawing a clear line between the Government’s investment in student safety and the Opposition’s dismissal of that progress. One offering structured investment in safety and access, the other signaling a possible return to informal, unregulated transport.
The public must now decide:
Should we go back to the chaos, danger, and tragedy of taxis?
Or continue building a safe, affordable, national school transport system worthy of our children?
As Jamaica moves toward Vision 2030 and aims to raise standards in education and public infrastructure, many see this moment as a clear test of leadership priorities — and a defining choice for the country’s future.