Travel woes in bad weather

Heavy rainfall complicates the ease of travel for commuters who depend on public transportation. Store clerk, Kimesha Tapper (not her real name), who lives and works within the May Pen area was prevented from going to work on Monday 26 September because of heavy and persistent showers due to the passing of Tropical Storm Ian close to the island. “I had to keep checking the WhatsApp group to see if we would open, but I knew if we did I could not reach because of the rain and flooding in May Pen,” she said.

According to a 2018 study by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), heavy rains increase challenges for those most in need of public transportation, including children and the elderly in Jamaica.

But the transportation woes were worse for people who live in Clarendon and work in different parishes. The weather on Monday posed a great obstacle for Kishawna Kelly (not her real name), a 19-year-old call center worker who commutes daily from the May Pen area to Mandeville, Manchester for work. Generally, Kelly leaves May Pen at 7:30 a.m. to arrive at work before 9:00 a.m. but, sometimes due to heavy rainfall has to leave about 30 minutes earlier than her regular time. “Of course, it did hard fi get sumn (bus) to Madeville, if a never for the money me would not brace the storm,” she said. She also explained that if she arrives at work after the given time, there is a reduction in her pay.

Commuter and security officer, John Williams (not his real name), did not see any May Pen to Kingston bus at the Kingston Bus Park in May Pen on Sunday evening 25 September. “There was no bus in sight, only one mi see and it a go Spain (Spanish Town),” he explained. Williams had to resort to borrowing a friend’s vehicle to arrive at work on time but incurred more expenses because of toll and gas charges. “It would save me a six grand if me did take the bus,” he added.

Another commuter, Ricardo Chambers (not his real name), also travels daily from May Pen to Kingston for work. The heavy rainfall and flooding prevented his travel to work on Monday. “The storm on Monday cause me fi nuh go work, have to call me boss and let him know that I can’t make it in today,” he said. “And even if mi did make it to town bus park (in May Pen) nuh bus would not be there in them a kind a weather,” he added. Still, Chambers had to complete his work duties remotely, despite a power outage in his area.

The long wait for buses during rush hour poses another challenge for these parish to parish commuters. “Downtown bus park full a people but no bus, and when one bus a come people a fight to go inside before it reach in the park,” Chambers explained.