Commentary

Slave merchants conducting bus

By LEIGHTON WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter

A LITTLE MORE than a year ago I wrote about my plight while travelling on a bus to Montego Bay. Well, here I am again 15 months later writing about my experience and I must add that not much has changed.

Yes, the buses still carry five persons per row and yes you still have people justifying the motorised version and 21st century edition of the Middle Passage by saying that it is the custom of the route so we all should live with it.

Frankly, because my ancestors suffered on my behalf on those slave ships to get here, I do not see why I should perpetuate their suffering by boarding these buses. Seriously, why should I suffer like my ancestors at the hands of the descendants of people who crossed the Atlantic in similar fashion to my predecessors?

It seems though that history continues to repeat itself.

On Saturday I had the unfortunate experience of taking the bus back to Kingston. The first bus I got on was almost full when the driver decided to offload the bus because someone refused to pay him.

So, we climbed on to another bus. But what got me upset was the decision by the conductor and his cohorts to place five persons per row. Added to this he decided to cram together two fairly big-boned people together on the same middle seat.

In all of this, what has always irked me is the passengers who justify it and those who meekly allow themselves to travel for three hours in discomfort by squeezing into those small spaces at the expense of greedy conductors.

Comfortable ride

I recall travelling on several occasions and hearing people say either we cannot pay for a comfortable ride or on Air Jamaica nine people sit in a row. But everytime I hear these asinine comments I always respond that:

if I were to fly into Montego Bay I would do so comfortably because I have paid for a comfortable ride and although Air Jamaica seats nine people per row I still travel in comfort. Besides, from the moment I am paying my fare I am entitled to a comfortable ride regardless of how I travel be it by bus, boat, donkey cart or plane. But these people seem not to think so.

You see, although I try to travel in relative comfort on those awful buses because I strategically choose my seat, I'm fed up of being told to shuffle up as if they expect me to sit on the window. I'm tired of being told to cooperate because I am black (as if being uncooperative for the right reason is bad) and I'm tired of being made to look anti-social when I stand up for myself.

But alas, there may be hope for me. I was told that there is actually a more comfortable service which travels the route albeit at set times. But, trust me, I am going to find that service and when I do that's the one I will use.

But seriously, I wonder how many people have been diagnosed with complications as a result of these greedy heartless people? And, how many have died from these complications? And how many of these conductors and bus owners have been made to pay?

I would really love to know.

e-mail:leighton.williams@gleanerjm.com