That Dina Bus Scandal Forgotten!

Click to download the newspaper clip.

Today, I will share an old story that must not be forgotten, and it has to do with the purchase of the so-called Dina buses in the 1990s. Someone took some old Dina buses in Mexico, repaired them, and sold them to Jamaica. They were sold as new buses.

I was at home one night when I received a call from a very distressed man. He told me that he bought one of the buses, which lasted a few months. He now had a loan to pay for and a bus that could not earn any money. I decided to take up the issue and to help this man. I discovered subsequently that other persons had suffered the same fate.

Parts of the buses were tested by the Bureau of Standards, and the report showed that the buses had welded chassis. There were other challenges with these buses.

The Dina Bus Scandal made major news nationally. The Dino Bus company decided to visit Jamaica to meet with the owners because their business name was being tarnished. 

I was told that the Dina Bus representatives were advised not to come to Jamaica because it is a dangerous country. I advised the transport operators that we should go to Mexico instead. I then got word that we should not go to Mexico because we could end up losing our lives. I told the bus operators that a team of us should visit the Dina Bus company in Mexico.

At that time, I was concerned for my safety. During this Dina Bus issue I went to Nannyville in Kingston to have a meeting with the residents who were fighting for the land titles for their houses. One of the dons there threatened me, and I was not able to have the meeting in the community centre. Notwithstanding the situation which was becoming dangerous for me at the time, I decided to take the trip to Mexico.

When the team of three arrived in Mexico, we were told that the Dino Bus Company did not sell any buses to anyone in Jamaica. We obtained other shocking information, but I am unable to retrieve the documents with the details.

On our return to the island, Jamaica House was advised that we had heard the full story behind the sale of the so-called Dina buses. A few days later, the Gleaner headline screamed that the transport operators would be compensated for their loss of approximately JAD70 million.

I look back and give thanks that I am alive while fighting for those transport operators. I remember travelling to Holmwood Technical High School to discuss the Dina Buss matter with other transport operators, and the front tyre of the car came off. It was a good thing I was not driving fast. Was it a setup? I really don't know.

After the transport operators were compensated for their loss, I never saw them again. I felt dejected, and I gave up running what some said was the first citizens' lobby group in Jamaica. I was subsequently invited back to radio after being a freelance presenter and commentator at the JBC, and I started hosting the show At Your Service on Nationwide 90FM. I ended up giving service to consumers on air, which was what I was doing before working with the Citizens' Initiative Organisation as its president.

Editor's Note

If you were one of those who got caught in the Dina bus scandal, you can WhatsApp me at 876-816-5261. I remember one of the operators I worked with was Leroy Miles, who lived in Christiana. I wonder if he is still around? Businessman Wayne Chen assisted us in that fight. I wrote this story because I was shocked that while discussing transportation issues, no one remembered the story of the Dina Bus Scandal.

Subsequent to that Dina Bus issue, I joined with the National Consumers' League, to write a transportation proposal, which was presented to the government.

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