Jamaica PPV fares rise 16 per cent in two-stage rollout

Commuters using public passenger vehicles will start paying higher fares from today, June 2, after Cabinet gave approval for a 16 per cent increase for PPV operators.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said the decision was announced this morning after talks between the Government and transport stakeholders. The adjustment will not be applied all at once. Instead, fares will move up by eight per cent today, with a further eight per cent increase planned for July.

Vaz said the Government chose a staged approach because of the possible effect a full rise in June could have had on inflation, as well as on passengers already dealing with higher living costs.

“The Government has decided to pursue a phased implementation of the increase based on consideration for the inflationary impact a full implementation of the 16 per cent would have had in June,” Vaz said.

He said the two-step increase is meant to address the financial strain on taxi and bus operators while limiting the pressure on the travelling public.

PPV operators had been pressing for higher fares since April 2024, saying fuel, maintenance and other operating expenses had been reducing their earnings. The new fares take effect across the public transportation sector today.