Mikael Phillips, the Opposition Spokesman on Transport, criticized the Ministry of Transport for lacking a national strategy to address parking issues in Jamaica’s town centres, particularly in Papine Square. He proposed immediate solutions and highlighted the need for collaboration with municipal agencies. Phillips emphasized that insufficient parking contributes to broader transportation challenges and questioned the government’s overall approach to transport integration.
In a recent critique, Mikael Phillips, the Opposition Spokesman on Transport, condemned the Ministry of Transport and the Transport Authority for their failure to devise a national strategy to tackle parking dilemmas in town centres throughout Jamaica. He pointed to significant congestion issues, notably in Papine Square, where inadequate parking exacerbates the struggles of taxi operators and commuters alike.
During a tour of Papine Square at the invitation of Patricia Duncan Sutherland, the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Andrew Eastern, Phillips witnessed the transportation congestion first-hand. He stated, “The issue of parking is the main issue, which causes just a general congestion in the town centres,” emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to create designated parking facilities for taxi operators.
Phillips further evaluated the Government’s transportation strategy, criticizing the expansion of Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) routes into rural regions without a coherent plan for integrating different transportation modes. He noted that the continued issuance of taxi licenses is hindered by the lack of proper parking provisions, preventing efficient implementation of transportation services.
To alleviate congestion in Papine Square, Phillips proposed several immediate solutions: utilizing the lay-by behind the JUTC bus stop for taxi operations and improving the management of the Market Road area to better accommodate both vendors and transporte operators. He acknowledged the necessity for collaboration with municipal corporations and the National Works Agency (NWA) to find sustainable long-term solutions.
The opposition spokesperson criticized the actions of the Transport Authority and law enforcement, stating that it is unjust to ticket taxi operators forced to park illegally due to insufficient designated parking areas. He remarked, “The Transport Authority would not have provided enough parking, but yet still, between the Transport Authority and the police, operators are being ticketed for parking on the streets.”
Mikael Phillips asserted that while the PNP does not possess all the solutions, the party is actively engaging transportation stakeholders to formulate actionable strategies for future governance.
Mikael Phillips has highlighted the urgent need for a national plan to address the parking crisis in Jamaica’s town centres, underscoring the resulting congestion in areas like Papine Square. His proposed immediate measures reflect a need for collaboration with local agencies to develop short and long-term parking solutions. Furthermore, he criticized the enforcement actions of the Transport Authority against operators who face challenges due to the lack of designated parking.
Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com
