SOME minibus operators are expected to pull their buses from several routes in Portmore, Kingston and Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) and some rural routes today in protest against the failure of transport officials to meet with them to address several concerns.

Under what is dubbed as Black Monday, the operators say they will be staging a peaceful protest in Half-Way-Tree while wearing items of black clothing to register their dissatisfaction.

National co-ordinator of the Jamaica Association of Transport Owners and Operators (JATOO), Edgerton Newman told the Observer yesterday that the protest could last for an entire day or a few hours. This, he noted, is dependent on whether arrangements for a meeting can be made with the transport minister or the Transport Authority.

"Black Monday means that some operators will either be wearing black, a refusal to provide services and a sit-in in Half-Way-Tree," he explained.

He, however, made it clear that no attempts will be made to disrupt the operations of those who choose not to be a part of the protest.

"If one of our members put even a green leaf in the road to impede traffic they will be in trouble with us and the law," Newman said.

He explained that the association has heard through a third party that the Transport Authority wants a meeting on Wednesday but this, he said, has not been communicated to any senior member of the executive.

"And so, until we hear something official we will be observing Black Monday," he said.