The days of bus and taxi loaders are numbered.

The St Andrew Central police are aggressively tackling the popular public transportation-based 'hustle', and have already begun to rid the division of all loaders in Half-Way Tree and other public transportation hubs.

Illegal practice

"There is currently a coordinated initiative against loader men of buses and taxis with the view of ending the illegal practice ... the move is long overdue as they are a public nuisance, assaulting citizens and conducting other illegal activities," said Superintendent Terrence Bent, head of the division.

The initiative will focus on bus and taxi loaders along Molynes and Hagley Park roads, North and South Odeon avenues, the Mandela Bus Park and its environs.

Police have already confronted resistance to their 'anti-loader' initiative, as during one of the operations last Friday, a man was shot dead and a policeman seriously injured.

Police say the incident occurred about 6 p.m. along Hagley Park Road, when a man, with a bulge in his waist, began acting strangely. He was accosted but pulled a machete from his waist and chopped an officer in his head.

Police say he was about to attack another officer when he was shot. The man was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police were unable to confirm if the man was a bus loader.

Relentless

Despite the obstacles, Supt Bent said they will be relentless in their efforts until the loaders are all gone, especially in Half-Way Tree.

"Half-Way Tree is the veranda of Jamaica, so we must secure it so that persons can travel in and about the island in peace and without intimidation, malice, and injury," said Bent.