Commentary

Conserve to save

AS OF YESTERDAY, Jamaicans started paying more money to travel on buses and route taxis.

This is following the Government's announcement that there would be an increase of these fares come Sunday.

The bus fare increase mainly affects commuters who travel on the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses which will see a flat fare of $50 being charged to travel in the Corporate Area.

Vox pops, as seen in the Saturday Gleaner and STAR newspapers, reflect the public's opinion about the increase, which they believe is not justified at this time.

While some agreed with the increase, others felt it should not have come at this time. Some Jamaicans, who cannot afford the increase, have already started to walk to their various destinations as one method of dealing with the increases.

The increases are directly linked to increases of gas prices which will also affect private commuters. Their gasolene bill has also increased and so they will be required to pay more. They too will have to be creative and consider solutions such as car pooling and not drive around unnecessarily as means to conserve.

The price increases have been affecting everybody and so we have to realise that each of us will have to pay more. As we go through these period of hikes, let us conserve and budget our money to minimise the impact on our pockets.