Typical coaster buses as captioned above ply many routes legally and illegally across towns and cities in Jamaica and like the minibus behaviours before in the nineties some of the same old ugly and indisciplined ways have carried over with unruly drivers, conductors and the associated societal leaches that of loaders who get passengers to the buses and who the conductors have to tip on each trip and the extortionists among them who demand protection money and or safe passage and immunity from police who patrol terminus spots for infractions also a predatory ticketing system some police officers have been accused of with back door deals in the form on payola to avoid charges placed against ones license at the transport authority. Such is the daily routine of our unofficial transportation system along the publicly subsidized one coupled with loud music, the rigid hegemonic re-enforcement of our version masculinity plus the thriving sex industry with teenage girls including no panty day where certain school girls who are groupies go underwear-less for easy access while on board moving buses throbbing with loud music, usually the bleaching King Vybz Kartel tunes instructing the latest sexual popular sexual positions and songs.
With all of that comes the typical anti homosexual tunes and attitudes to look all manly and stud like but as many have come to find out there are down low liaisons happening and such may have been the issue where a gay joke at a particular bus stand on February 16th around 6pm. Fortunately I was witnessed the near missed thrashing the deliverer of the joke would have received if he hadn't beaten a hasty retreat and with threats to destroy the bus if it is seen on the stand loading in the future, interestingly a character from a rival bus crew named of all things "Shebada" (associated with a popular local effeminate roots play character) because of his semi effeminate attitude was not bashed and in fact found the whole episode amusing which may suggest that it may have been the intense competition and rivalry of bus crews for the all important passenger load and quick trips during peak hour that caused the problem more so than the gay joke gone bad although that was made to be the reason for the mobbing. Also what struck me was the bus that the "Shebada" character is associated with is one of the most popular on the route which plies to St. Catherine with loud music, flashing lights on the outside and plush seating with air conditioning always delivered to would be passengers, they clearly have a large fan base which doesn't suggest the supporters are themselves homosexual.
The joke that sparked the move
Several of these coaster buses were on the stand with callers or loaders beckoning to passers-by during peak hour a man who approached the bus in question on which the gay joker was conducting looked in by the door but hissed his teeth and moved on to stand elsewhere apparently not pleased with the seating he desired, the conductor and the other loader men as is sometimes customary do not take kindly to such open refusals or ignoring from members of the public when they invite you to the bus of activity at the time and proceeded to describe the man as stush (selective) and probably gay as he was well dressed, the teasing among the loaders now numbered three (an intimidating form to get passengers) and the conductor commenced in typical colourful Jamaican fashion but when the conductor said that one of the loaders should go ask the "stush" male passenger for a f*** that's where all hell broke out, a shouting match began and more men from across the road joined the throng, not before the now 80% loaded bus started to move off the stand that the mob rushed the "gay joke" conductor, other persons also joined arguing that he was out of order and the "stush" man had boarded a JUTC bus some moments before all this. The angry men left behind following the bus's departure vowed that the bus will not return there to work anymore. I was amazed how this all went down and how a simple matter can blow up in no time.
There have been accusations of alleged or perceived homosexuality by certain bus crews on this and other routes so much so that a male passenger was heard saying he is very selective about certain buses, suggesting maybe the "Shebada" character bashment bus may be the one he was referring to.
Just goes to show the many issues out a road deh.
Peace and tolerance
H
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