Come next Monday the drive to rid public-transportation-buses of heavy tinting and amplified audio and video equipment will be getting a boost in Portmore, St Catherine.

The push will come as a result of a combined effort between the St Catherine South police, the Transport Authority and the Jamaica Constabulary Force Traffic Headquarters.

In recent weeks, the National Transformation Programme (NTP), headed by the Reverend Al Miller, had called for the removal of the equipment from public transport. The request came amid reports that they were providing a cover for and encouraging lewd behaviour, especially among minors, on the buses. A November 1 deadline was set for all stakeholders to come in compliance with the new move.

lagging behind

Speaking with THE WEEKEND STAR yesterday, Portmore's top cop, Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, said the overall compliance rate in Portmore could be greater.

"It has not been as fast as we would have wanted it to be but we are going to pick up the pace starting next week," the police officer said. "We are enlisting the support from outside forces (Transport Authority and Traffic HQ) to get the process started on Monday."

Nesbeth said talks were held with bus operators to get them to make the necessary changes in time with the November 1 deadline; however, some still remain in breach. The lawman said it would have better served the bus operators if they had taken the task in their own hands.

"Because now we are going to have to stop the buses and do it ourselves. That takes time and is going to result in a loss of revenue for them," Nesbeth added.

There has been public debate in recent times about the ill-conduct of schoolchildren on public transports. Many reports have pointed to the lewd music and heavy dark tint on some public-passenger buses as being conducive for illicit acts such as sex between adults and minors on the vehicles.