Opposition Senator Peter Bunting is drawing a line in the sand over the Government’s decision to use what he calls “old buses” under the rural school bus system, insisting he is willing to pay a political price for speaking out.
The People’s National Party (PNP) standard-bearer for Manchester Southern, who suffered a surprise defeat to the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Rhoda Crawford in the 2020 general election, did not mince words as he addressed supporters in Christiana on Sunday night.
“These were pulled out of circulation in the US because they were either not considered safe enough for American children or were too inefficient,” Bunting declared, issuing a stern warning about the safety of the vehicles.
He stressed that his concerns go beyond party politics.
“This issue of the safety of our children should not be a political debate,” he said. “Whatever they want to say about me, and whatever political price I could pay, it is worth it if I can save the life of one child in Manchester, and I make no apology for that.”
Bunting argued that the buses, originally designed for flat, urban terrain in the United States, are ill-suited for Jamaica’s hilly landscape. He pointed to potential hazards, including compromised braking systems and designs that could endanger pedestrians.
“I am bawling out! Mi nuh care who waaah vex. I wouldn’t put my child on that old bus on these hilly terrain, these pothole roads with hairpin turns in Manchester, St Elizabeth, Trelawny,” he said.
His comments have drawn sharp criticism from the Government. In a statement issued earlier, Minister of Education, Youth, and Information Dr Dana Morris Dixon dismissed the opposition’s attacks as “baseless, unfortunate and unhelpful.”
She expressed particular disappointment in Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who had also taken jabs at the buses during a political rally, referring to them as “old” and suggesting children should instead be transported by “di likkle man who have dem pro-box and AR wagon”.
Dr Dixon also took aim at Bunting’s remarks, accusing him of spreading misinformation.
“The allegation that the buses are being brought into Jamaica to ‘kill off di children’ is false and baseless,” she said.
But Bunting stood firm, doubling down on his assertions during Sunday’s meeting.
“These are retired old buses. Many are over 10-15 years old, with hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock,” he said.
“These were pulled out of circulation in the United States because their engines are tired, their suspensions are worn, [and] their wiring systems are brittle. This is an engineering and safety issue,” said Bunting, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University in Canada.
Dixon, however, maintained that the buses meet strict international standards.
“Similar model buses are currently utilised in the United States and Canada,” she said.
“The buses are manufactured in accordance with the safety specifications of the US Department of Transportation, and they undergo a rigorous maintenance and inspection regime before and after arriving in Jamaica. Our students’ safety is our foremost priority.”
She added that each bus is subjected to comprehensive inspection and fitness testing upon arrival in Jamaica, and that regular servicing will be carried out to ensure they remain roadworthy.