Looking out. This broken windscreen was one of the 14 damaged by vandals early yesterday morning. On the outside, affected workers survey the scene which greeted them. (Picture by Antonio Miller.)

THE TRANSPORT BOARD will have to spend more than $20 000 after vandals struck again yesterday, damaging 14 buses.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m., left several bus routes from the Fairchild Street Terminal affected, after the fleet suffered damage to 12 windscreens and two rearview mirrors.

Marketing and Corporate Communications manager Lynda Holder said the early morning routes and some school buses were delayed, which would continue throughout the day.

Although the replacement had started, Holder said the complication would not only be the availability of parts, but also of labour.

"The cost of $18 000 20 000 is only for the windscreens. That has nothing to do with the labour or the loss of revenue, and all these things have to be factored in," Holder stressed. She said what was significant, too, was the fact that the windscreens were damaged "directly on the driver's side", which made the buses impossible to drive.

The manager noted since the board was a Government-owned entity, the vandals were in fact generating a cost to themselves and taxpayers.

"We also want to reiterate that when you damage any Crown property it is a criminal offence, and as such will be dealt with," Holder cautioned.

The manager said the incident had come as a "shocker", since the last acts of violence would have been early in 2007, when the buses suffered major vandalismto the seats.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of crime, Morgan Greaves, appealed to members of the public with information to getin contact with the nearest police station.

He said the force would do its best to bring the investigation to a successful closure.

(CT)