280 TRANSIT JOBS CUT.

The state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Co. (JUTC) said 280 jobs are being made redundant in what the firm said was the first phase of an across-the-board downsizing to make it viable and improve efficiency and productivity, reports The Jamaica Observer (Jan. 30, 2003). The JUTC said that the 280 workers represent "approximately 8% of the company's workforce of 3,300." The redundancies come after a study, completed last summer by the consulting firm KPMG, found that between its formation in July 1998 and February last year, the JUTC lost J$2.63 billion and that it had a negative net worth of J$1.3 billion. The company was "technically insolvent", the report found. In fact, the bus company estimates that it loses approximately J$4 million monthly from both illegal operators who ply the bus routes and operating inefficiencies. Earlier in January, it emerged that a team of Swiss consultants who recently conducted an audit into the operations of the JUTC has recommended a 90% increase in bus fares as one of the measures to help move the ailing company into a position of profitability. However, the fare increase recommendation has already been rejected by the unions.

60 Garbage Compactor Trucks, 12 Mini-Garbage Compactors, 5 Crane Trucks, 2 Fuel Trucks, 4 Transfer Stations, 2 Trailer Heads, 4 Water Trucks, 12 Tipper Trucks, and 4 Wheel Loaders are sought by the Government. No information as to bid deadline was provided. Details: Astley Todd, National Solid Waste Management Authority, 61 Half Way Tree Road, Kingston, Saint Andrew Kingston 10, Jamaica. Tel:[phone]. Fax:[phone].

Household Electronic Appliances are sought by an importer: Including Radios, Calculators, Kitchen Appliances. Bank reference: RBTT BAnk Jamaica Ltd., 6 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10. Details: Wayne Ranglin, Broadway Wholesale Ltd. 5 Hope Road, Kingston, Saint Andrew Kingston 10. Phone:[phone]. Fax:[phone].

Copyright 2003