Golding seeks probe into $1.4b school bus deal

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has written to three of the country’s anti-corruption bodies requesting an investigation into the transport ministry’s procurement of 110 used school buses brought in from the United States.

Golding’s July 2025 letters, copies of which The Gleaner received on Sunday, said “apparent irregularities and other suspicious aspects relating to the procurement” of the buses had been brought to his attention.

His letters were addressed to the Integrity Commission (IC), Auditor General’s Department (AuGD) and the Major Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA).

On Monday, The Gleaner emailed questions to the entities to ascertain whether investigations had been launched.

Basil Jarrett, MOCA’s communications pointman,, said he could not say much publicly.

“While MOCA can confirm having received the report in question, it is against established policy to comment publicly on any actions taken or decisions contemplated in response to such matters. What I can say however, is that a full and comprehensive evaluation is being undertaken, in order to assess the credibility, veracity and substance of the allegations,” he told The Gleaner.

Up to press time, there was no response from the IC or the AuGD.

Under Section 53(3) of the Integrity Commission Act, until an investigation report is tabled in Parliament, all matters under investigation by that body must be kept confidential.

The commission and its staff are also forbidden from making any public statement regarding the initiation or conduct of an investigation.

Golding pointed to the unsolicited proposal brought by ELHYDRO Limited. He said the company is not an accredited motor vehicle dealer.

“There has been growing public concern regarding the cost of acquiring these buses. I have seen a copy of an invoice for 26 of the buses, reflecting an average price of US$16,350 (J$2.6 million).

“However, the minister has stated that the Government paid J$1.4 billion for 110 buses, which is an average unit cost of J$12.7 million per bus. This means the Government has paid on average about J$10 million more per bus than the overseas supplier’s invoiced price,” the letter said.

Further, he said that the invoice seen for 26 of the buses shows that ELHYDRO purchased them from Triarii Advisors LLC, an entity based in Chicago.

“Minister Vaz has said publicly that ELHYDRO is the ‘sole distributor’ for these buses. That would suggest that Triarii is in the business of selling fleets of used school buses,” it said.

However, he said a look at Triarii’s website suggests that the company offers business consultation.

He said there is no mention of transportation, much less school buses.

Golding said VIN decoding reports confirm that some of the units that were misrepresented as new in correspondence from the Jamaica Trade Board are, in fact, approximately 14 to 15 years old, and have reportedly been imported as new without undergoing the mandatory pre-shipment inspection for used vehicles.

His letter said he attached a bundle containing several documents in support of the foregoing.

“In light of the above, I am requesting that a full, independent investigation of the procurement of these buses, and any relevant surrounding circumstances, be conducted immediately.

“We are seeking full transparency and accountability in this matter, as these buses will be transporting Jamaican school West children, often on poor roads in difficult, mountainous terrain. The integrity of our procurement system, and the safety and value delivered by this Rural School Bus Programme, are at stake,” the letter said.

On Sunday, The Gleaner reported that the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) warned the transport ministry against handpicking contractors even as it endorsed the $1.4-billion deal for controversial used school buses last year.

At the time, the ministry – then known as the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport – had awarded the contract to ELHYDRO through a single-source method based on the unsolicited proposal. There was no competitive bidding process.

“The MSETT should not attempt any future direct award and must commence planning now for future acquisitions using competitive methods as far as practicable,” the commission noted.

Last week, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said while the buses are performing, the Government will be acquiring 100 new buses.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com