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Jamaica Vision 2030

Part 3: The Jamaican People Deserves Better – To Achieve Vision 2030 For The Public Transportation Sector A New Business Model Is Needed Now…NTAG

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Part 3: The Key Stakeholders Required To Make This Plan Work

The Jamaican People

The vast majority of the public will tell you that they are dissatisfied with the level of public transportation customer service and experience they receive, and for NTAG this is also a problem that must be fixed if the sector is to grow and fulfil its mandate to the Jamaican people.

“We need to quit treating transportation subsidies as a drain on public funds and instead view them as strategic investments that generate huge social, economic, and environmental returns. If one public service [could] be said to symbolise the frustration driving social unrest, it [was] public transportation”.
Alberto Moreno, former president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

This public dissatisfaction with the low and poor customer experience in the public transportation sector has led NTAG to establish a clear position and mandate that “Every Jamaican Deserves To Have Access To A Modern Tech Driven Public Transportation Service That Is Safe, Comfortable, Cost Effective, Efficient And Reliable.”

“The more efficient the public transportation becomes is the more efficient workers become; they reach work on time. They do not have to spend two hours or maybe 30 minutes in traffic”
Dr. Lawrence Nicholson The University Of The West Indies

The 2030 Vision as envisioned by NTAG embraces three key elements:

Technology: will significantly improve efficiency within the sector and allow for a more seamless distribution and access to information and service via the smartphone.

A Cashless System: will provide higher levels of security for the Transporters, who are now forced to carry around large wads of cash on a daily basis, making them targets for criminals. This will also allow passengers and customers to conduct transactions via their smartphones and reduce the need to walk with cash.

Scheduled Times: will allow passengers and customers to better plan their departure and arrival times for both business and personal matters with No More Squeeze Up, and On Time Departures. On the courier side this will allow for increased timely and organised delivery schedules.

A week after the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) announced that it had repaired nearly 100 buses for the new academic year, commuters said they are still baffled with the lengthy wait times to get to their destinations.

“I have only seen two buses in the 30 minutes and they are coming packed. I brought my daughter to school this morning from 5:00, on the number 16 in Portmore. I am trying to go back home but no JUTC. Anything I can get right now, I will take,”

“A bus should leave town about 7:15 am but I am not seeing that bus. Normally, what I have to do is come out earlier and catch the 6:30 bus because after that you don’t get another bus until 8:30 am. This has been the case from summer — but it is worse now,”

“About an hour now, no bus nuh come. Every week is the same problem. From it reach certain hours — 9:00 am, 10:00 am, or even 1:00 pm, yuh suffer fi get a bus. Sometimes when mi out here mi haffi turn round back, cyaan get no bus and cancel my plans because the time pass; mi cyaan go again,”

The 2030 Vision is also supported by the following 7 Minimum Service Levels For The Customer And Passengers.

1. Availability:
In this world of 24-7 activity, the acceptable availability standard has been raised.
Customers expect information and service at their fingertips; when they need it and
where they need it.

2. Courtesy:
In creating amazing customer experiences, courtesy goes far beyond having nice manners and smiling. There is courtesy in the way our Transporters behave that yes, includes the observable traits of pleasant tone, nice words, welcoming and friendly
body language, high levels of personal hygiene, dress code and appearance and importantly a clean vehicle among other things.

3. Consistency:
Customers appreciate consistency in service and services. This poses a challenge
when Transporters go out of their way or bend a policy to please a customer.

4. Accuracy:
Providing and communicating correct information to customers is imperative to deliver at least the minimum level of service. Customers and passengers will make decisions and act upon the information they receive, and receiving inaccurate information could potentially make a customer go down a very wrong and inefficient
path…leading to poor customer experiences.

5. Responsiveness:
Readily reacting to customers and passengers in a timely manner to their needs or requests, and consistently communicating progress of this request is very important to them. No one wants their requests to go into an abyss, void of communication or acknowledgement.

6. Efficiency:
The efficient use of resources whether it be human, financial, time, etc. will inevitably lead to delivering great service to our customers’ and passengers.

7. Safety and Security:
Peace of mind is very important to our customers’ and passengers, and so they expect at all times to Experience Safe, Comfortable, Economical, Efficient & Reliable Service.

NTAG will ensure that all Transporters go through an Introduction and Familiarization session before joining the team as a Transporter. The sessions cover the role and responsibility of the Transporter to the passenger, how to use the Smartphone and Application, customer service and expectations, and basic business skills among other things. All relevant documents must be submitted and be approved by NTAG in order to make the Driver Active as a Transporter.

Next Part 4: The Key Stakeholders Required To Make This Plan Work – Investors and Owners

Next Part 4: The Key Stakeholders Required To Make This Plan Work – Investors and Owners – To Achieve Vision 2030 For The Public Transportation Sector A New Business Model Is Needed Now…NTAG

Part 2: Public Transportation Sector Cannot Survive On One Foot – To Achieve Vision 2030 For The Public Transportation Sector A New Business Model Is Needed Now…NTAG

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GOV’T Remains Committed to Facilitating an Enabling Investment Environment

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GOV’T Remains Committed to Facilitating an Enabling Investment Environment
Photo: Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness right) speaks with designer, Vintage Chic, Shanna Campbell about her handmade pieces, during the opening ceremony for Expo Jamaica 2025 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St. Andrew on April 3.

 

GOV’T Remains Committed to Facilitating an Enabling Investment Environment
Photo: Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness left), samples a coffee carrot ginger brew from Beyond 5 Beverages given to him Managing Director of the company, Damain Drummond right) during the opening ceremony for Expo Jamaica 2025, at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St. Andrew on April 3.

 

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness has committed to ensuring that the policies and initiatives of the Government remain aligned with entrepreneurs, thereby creating an enabling environment that fosters investment. “To our manufacturers and exporters… your effort represents the heart of our economic progress, your resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial courage has carried Brand Jamaica to every corner of the globe.

“As Prime Minister, I commit to ensuring our policies and initiatives remain aligned with your ambitions, creating an enabling environment that fosters investment, innovation and global competitiveness. Together we will strengthen our local economy and solidify Jamaica’s position on the international stage,” Dr. Holness said.

The Prime Minister was speaking during the opening ceremony for Expo Jamaica 2025 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St. Andrew on April 3.

Dr. Holness said Expo Jamaica is a vivid showcase of Jamaica’s boundless potential, “so as we advance global partnerships and create impactful local results, let us reaffirm our collective determination to build a prosperous, productive Jamaica that leaves no one behind”.

“Expo Jamaica exemplifies how far Jamaica has come. Over 250 exhibitors showcasing more than 5000 products and services alongside 884 registered local and international buyers from 25 countries. This clearly reflects Jamaica’s growing global influence and appeal,” he said.

He added that the event has grown tremendously, now standing as the largest trade exhibition in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Dr. Holness said Jamaica today boasts its strongest economy since independence.

“Whether you measure Jamaica’s economic performance and stability by the unemployment rate, the inflation rate, the debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio or Net International Reserves (NIR), by every critical metric, our economy undeniable demonstrates economic stability and resilience,” he said.

He added that growth is another central pillar to economic stability and resilience.

“For Jamaica to realise its fullest potential, our growth rate must accelerate from one to two percent towards a more ambitious target of four to five per cent. Central to achieving this are initiatives which this Government has launched, and we call them ASPIRE, that is our comprehensive growth strategy,” he said.

ASPIRE stands for: Access to Economic Opportunity for All (Inclusive Growth); Safety and Security; People (Human Capital Development); Infrastructure Development; Reform of the Bureaucracy (Ease, Speed, and Cost of Doing Business); Economic Diversification/New Industries.

He further added that inclusivity and equity are paramount to the Government’s growth agenda.

Meanwhile, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill said the administration continues to position Jamaica as an investment destination for financial services, logistics, skilled labour, high value services and premium products.

“This expo is Jamaica’s open invitation to the world… The Andrew Holness administration has made it our mission to make Jamaica a very attractive place in this region in which to do business. Our macroeconomic numbers tell a clear story,” he said

Other speakers at the function included President, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Shullette Cox, and Chairman, Expo Jamaica, Aswad Morgan.

This year’s event is being held from Thursday (April 3) to Sunday (April 6) at the National Arena and the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.

The four-day tradeshow, under the theme ‘Global Partnership, Local Impact: Advancing Jamaica’s Reach’, is organised by the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association Limited (JMEA) and JAMPRO.

By: CHRIS PATTERSON, JIS

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Jamaica Open For High-Value Agricultural Investments – Minister Green

“Now is the time for high-value agricultural investment, right here in Jamaica. Things that we produce in Jamaica are sought after all over the world. As such, we do believe there are significant opportunities now in agro processing,” Mr. Green said.

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Jamaica is being touted as a prime destination for high-value agricultural investments.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, highlighted that the country is at a pivotal stage in its transformation, pointing out that the Ministry’s key objectives are to drive investment, expand trade, and strengthen food security.

“To achieve this objective, the nation must collaborate with its international partners,” he told members of the Diplomatic Corps on Wednesday (March 12).

Minister Green said Jamaica, having seen a declining debt-to-GDP ratio and myriad other positive economic outcomes in recent years, is well positioned to take advantage of global opportunities.

He was speaking during a Ministerial Briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in downtown Kingston, which formed part of activities marking Diplomatic Week 2025.

Mr. Green said while Jamaica currently benefits from several trade arrangements with its regional partners, the Government wants to expand the global footprint in trade and investment.

“What we want to see from my Ministry’s perspective [is] how we can leverage these arrangements to do much more. As such, we want to work with you (the diplomatic corps) to drive trade expansion, to reduce market barriers and to facilitate direct connections with importers and distributors so that we can expand our exports,” the Minister outlined.

He added that there are significant investment opportunities and win-win proposals for Jamaica and its partners.

“Now is the time for high-value agricultural investment, right here in Jamaica. Things that we produce in Jamaica are sought after all over the world. As such, we do believe there are significant opportunities now in agro processing,” Mr. Green said.

The Minister emphasised that one area now ripe for investments is orchard crop farming.

“We do have land available for investment in orchard crops. In fact, we’ve developed our first ever mango orchard, or mango agro park, where we invite private-sector investors to come in and establish 50-acre blocks of mango farms. That is going well. In fact, we’ve already established about 200 acres. We want to establish another 300 acres in this financial year,” the Minister outlined.

Mr. Green also touted opportunities in livestock farming and the dairy industry, noting that Jamaica is looking to leverage partnerships in this area.

“We want to facilitate greater bilateral discussions between you and your home countries with Jamaica’s agricultural sector around investment… around connecting investors with local projects that can accelerate economic growth,” he told the diplomats.

Mr. Green pointed out that Jamaica’s collaboration with its international partners has been instrumental in advancing the nation’s economic agenda.

By: Donique Weston, JIS

Photo: Yhomo Hutchinson

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