KINGSTON, Jamaica:
The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) has paid over $500,000 to the office of the Corporate Area Bailiff as it moves to settle a multi-million dollar claim.

The cheque was paid over yesterday in relation to damages awarded to claimants in civil suits against the state-owned bus company on an order of the Supreme Court.

The claims were filed following traffic crashes involving JUTC buses on which the claimants were travelling as passengers.

Oswald Sherriah, bailiff, said he is trying to recover millions of dollars to settle three civil suits in addition to other fees.

Two buses have been seized in an attempt to settle payments on two of the suits.

Sherriah says it is costing him to secure the articulated bus that was seized on April 15 and parked in Cross Roads, St. Andrew.

The bus is advertised to be sold at a public auction on Saturday.

Yesterday, Transport Minister, Dr. Omar Davies said the three claims amount to just under $7 million.

He said one is for $4 million, another for $2 million and the other for $600,000.

The transport minister said funds have been identified with respect to the claims and by today two of them will be fully paid off.

Dr. Davies also said a payment schedule will be established in relation to the other claim which is to be settled in two tranches.

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