Bus park ‘dispatcher’ wants JUTC job

Long before sunrise, Pearnel Wallace is already on the ground at the Ocho Rios, St Ann, bus park, handing out numbers to passengers boarding the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses.

The state-run bus company has since distanced itself from the practice, making it clear that Wallace is not an employee and warning that commuters are not required to pay any fees to unauthorised individuals to access seats.

Wallace, however, maintains that no money is being collected. The soup and snack vendor insists his actions are part of a personal push to secure employment as a dispatcher with the state-owned carrier.

"All mi a try do is impress JUTC because mi want a work with dem," Wallace, a soup and snack vendor told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Mi deal with the passengers dem good too and tell them to ensure that they have all their belongings when they are leaving the bus. I also collect any garbage that they have before boarding and tell them not to have any knives into their back pockets because it can cut up the seat. Di people dem love mi and as mi say mi or the other man nah collect any money," Wallace said.

Wallace, who has never formally applied to the company before, revealed that he is now preparing to do so, with help from his wife. He said that she is now putting together a resume and application letter. His ultimate goal is to land a job as a dispatcher.

The role Wallace aspires to is not without formal requirements. In 2003, when the JUTC last advertised for dispatchers, its job guidelines says applicants are expected to hold a diploma in Business Administration or Management Studies, along with at least one year of supervisory experience.

Alternatively, candidates may qualify with a HEART/NSTA Trust or NVQ-J Level 3 certification in Business Management, supported by two to four years' work experience. At the time, the advertised salary for dispatchers range from approximately $1.98 million to $2.66 million per year.

Wallace told THE WEEKEND STAR that he does not meet the academic criteria, but is positive that his customer and problem-solving skills would be more than useful.

Each morning, starting as early as 5 a.m., Wallace assigns numbers to commuters lining up for buses heading to Half-Way Tree, St Andrew. He says this ensures an orderly boarding process.

"Mi stand up right at the door and mi call the numbers dem to come in," he revealed.

Wallace insists that neither he nor his colleague charges for the service. A video, which has gone viral, shows one of the men with cash in his hand. Wallace insists that at no point has he or his associate charged commuters for the service -- an allegation that surfaced earlier this week after a video began circulating online, prompting a police probe.

"Mi and the guy run a shift where him give away in the evening and I do the morning shift," he said.

Authorities say the footage appeared to show a man selling boarding numbers, a practice the JUTC has since condemned as unauthorised. The company has warned that passengers are not required to pay any unofficial fee to access its buses.

Despite the scrutiny, Wallace maintains his innocence, noting that he was questioned by police and released without charge.

He believes the viral video, rather than damaging his reputation, could actually help his chances of employment.

"If mi get a work at JUTC weh a pay mi like $100,000 or $120,000 a month, mi would glad for it, because sometimes the selling get slow. So at least mi would have dat a do," Wallace said.

For now, Wallace continues to treat the bus park like a live audition -- hopeful that his efforts will eventually earn him a permanent role.

"Is last week Monday morning we start, and to be honest, mi nuh regret it because mi see how the driver and the people dem like the help, because no more shoving and pushing nah gwane," he said.