Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says PPV operators will have to wait longer for a 16% fare adjustment amid inflation pressure from fuel costs.
A 16% fare adjustment for Jamaica’s public passenger vehicles will not arrive on the timetable operators want, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said, citing continued strain from fuel costs and inflation risks.
Speaking during the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Vaz told legislators that PPV operators have been pushing for the increase as fuel prices rose following the February 28 attack on Iran by the United States and Israel.
Even as a ceasefire has been in place since April 8, Misryoum reports that Vaz said oil prices have continued to climb, pulling upward the costs of other goods and services that affect daily operations.
That mix of volatile fuel prices and wider cost pressure matters because PPV services sit at the center of everyday mobility, so any delay or change in fares quickly ripples through commuting and local business activity.
Vaz acknowledged that the sector remains under strain not only from rising fuel prices but also from the outstanding 16% fare adjustment. He said the matter is still under consideration, with the Government weighing the impact on inflation.
He also pointed to the pattern of disruptions that can complicate economic planning, saying there have been periods when forecasts were thrown off by hurricanes or other events. He told the House that the commitment to address the adjustment remains in place.
Fuel, Vaz said, now accounts for up to 65% of monthly operating expenses for PPV operators, alongside added pressure from tolls, insurance and maintenance. He described those expenses as threatening the sector’s sustainability.
In response, Misryoum reports that the Government is working to move the 16% fare adjustment forward while also preparing a public communication plan.. Vaz said relief measures are being explored, including possible reductions in insurance premiums and concessionary tolls, alongside stronger enforcement against illegal operators.
Looking ahead, Vaz said longer-term solutions include updating the vehicle age policy to support fleet modernisation, offering incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles, providing technical and financial training, and improving parking infrastructure.
The key point here is that fare policy is not only a pricing decision, Vaz’s remarks suggest, but also a question of maintaining service reliability while preventing cost shocks from worsening for commuters.