Months after the Downtown Municipal Transport Centre was opened, it has remained underused, causing many to ask if this multimillion-dollar centre was a waste of taxpayers' money, since it is only being used by St Thomas operators and commuters.

Since its official opening in January, persons have expressed concern about their safety. Others have argued that the centre, located on Water Lane, is inconvenient because it is far away from most places.

Although opened for business, the transport centre that caters to rural bus operators and hackney carriages is yet to be completed.

Tommy, a security guard who works at the centre, told THE WEEKEND STAR that, "Fi the first two weeks people cuss, after two weeks everybody say di system right."

When THE WEEKEND STAR visited the location recently, five buses, two shuttles and three coasters were seen entering the centre during the 45-minute period that the news team was at the venue.

quieter and more secure

Sophia, a commuter who was waiting on a bus destined for St Thomas, said she liked the new bus park because "it's quieter and more secure". She added that, "Far is relative ... Shuttle buses are provided."

Joan, another woman who was nearby and heard the debate, divulged that, "Di bus park nuh ready, if rain fall everybody get wet up."

She also said that, "Only St Thomas bus come down here, mi neva see nuh other bus down here."

When THE WEEKEND STAR spoke to Jillian Richards, route inspector at the Transport Centre, she noted that a lot of transport operators have not been complying with the new system. "St Thomas is most popular because they didn't have a bus park before," she said.

When contacted, Reginald Allen, director of communications at the JUTC, said, "What I have been aware of is that St Thomas buses have been largely using the facility, and I'm told some Portland buses and a smaller segment of the St Mary buses and a few rural St Catherine ... The major problem is with the taxis."

While admitting that it will take some time for everything to seep into place, he said that a committee has been working at ironing out the challenges.

He also said that the regulatory arm, which comprises the police and the transport authority, has been working at correcting the problem, adding that over time they have been adjusting their approach in order to have people adjusting to the new regulations.

In the meantime, Sophiatold THE WEEKEND STAR that even though an efficient shuttle system is in place there have been talks of an impending charge for the use of the service.

Allen rebutted these claims, saying, "I have not heard that, not even as a rumour." He said that if it was so he would have been one of the first persons to know.

Names changed.