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Transport Minister Daryl Vaz is defending the age and condition of the buses being procured under the rural school bus system.

Used school buses have been imported from the United States of America for use in the school bus system. Vaz said the average age of these vehicles is 10 years old. He also asserted that they are in good condition and have another 10-15 years of useful life.

According to Vaz, the Opposition's claim that the buses are too old is misleading, especially when compared to the age of vehicles already operating in the public transportation system.

"I am advised that the average age of registered motor cars currently in the public transport system is 14 years," Vaz said at a press conference held at the ministry's Kingston office yesterday.

"Prior to recent purchases, the average age of buses in the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), [the] fleet was 14 years old. I am further advised that currently the average age of registered buses in the wider public transport system is 18 years."

The state-owned JUTC imports new buses for its operation.

In the case of the units to be used for the Rural School Bus System, Vaz said the average mileage on these buses is 135,000 miles, with some having mileage as low as 70,000.

"The buses under the Rural School Bus System generally have way less average mileage and a better maintenance history compared to what exists in the wider registered public transportation business," Vaz said.

The People's National Party (PNP) has been strident in opposition to the use of the used buses to transport children.

"These are retired old buses. Many are over 10-15 years old, with hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock," Peter Bunting said at a political rally in Manchester on Sunday night.

"These were pulled out of circulation in the United States because their engines are tired, their suspensions are worn, [and] their wiring systems are brittle. This is an engineering and safety issue," said Bunting, who has a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from McGill University in Canada.

Vaz argued that the Opposition's attack on the programme is not based on facts or genuine concern, but rather political opportunism.

"The Opposition's description of buses purchased under the Rural School Bus system as 'old buses unworthy of transporting our children', is unprincipled, dishonest and should be firmly rejected," Vaz said.

According to the minister, the buses purchased have at least 80 per cent of their mechanical life left, and are fully functional. He said the buses were thoroughly inspected and approved prior to being brought to Jamaica, and that no buses with defects are imported.

"These Cummins diesel engines and Allsion transmissions are designed to last up to 300 to 500,000 miles before overhauling. The buses we are bringing to Jamaica have an average of 135,000 miles or fewer. Hence [they] would give ... another 10-15 years of service to students on our Jamaican roads. This, I say, without fear of contradiction, is excellent value for money," Vaz said.