The public transportation system is by no means perfect. Albeit what exists now represents a significant improvement when viewed against what obtained in the 1990s. Commuters can now travel in air-conditioned comfort on clean and orderly buses controlled by on-time scheduling for the most part.

The strides made, however, have come at colossal losses to this country. Taxpayers continue to subsidise the operation of the Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation (JUTC) to the tune of billions of dollars each year. And now the Government is faced with a potentially budget-crippling Privy Council ruling in favour of the Ezroy Millwood-led National Transport Co-operative Society (NTCS).

It is easy to blame the powers that be for the fallout, but I am inclined to think that the interest and the welfare of the citizens of this country was at the heart of the decision to step in and offer something better for poor people. Unfortunately, as sincere as the prime minister and minister of transport and works may have been, if the result is more damaging than helpful, the architects of the transformation ought to be held accountable.

By insisting on this, I am reminding those in charge that a thorough examination of the consequences of any decision ought to be as important as the expected benefits. The firing of the governor of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) is instructive. What has the country gained as against what have we lost? Derick Latibeaudiere must be paid what is due to him under his contract, whether or not the prime minister thinks his remuneration was excessive. And the International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiations with the IMF must also go on.

"Repugnant" and "embarrassing"

The speeches crafted to announce these decisions, whether it be the triumphant firing of the BOJ governor for the "repugnant" and "embarrassing" terms of his contract of employment, or the revocation of a valid licence to the NTCS are designed to win public support and sympathy. If those sentiments are replaced by anger and resentment after the complete picture is painted, Bruce Golding should not be surprised.

In the context of our current economic reality, could it be that the transformation of the public-transport arena has come at too high a price? To what extent has the Government miscalculated the benefits of introducing changes of the status quo, and how has this impacted on our balance of payments maladies? Perhaps it would be prudent to commission a forensic study of these decisions to ascertain its precise economic impact. Future generations can only 'benefit' from the results.

I am, etc.,

RUEL WOOLCOCK

ventura49@hotmail.com

Parkington Plaza

Kingston 10