A bus driver who was sprayed in the face by a fire extinguisher is urging people to be more respectful of public service employees.

'P.J', a 44-year-old father-of-two, was attacked by a passenger after he asked him to remove his hood. He says he only returned to work two days later, despite comments in this newspaper by Public Transportation Board director Dan Simmons, which said he had returned to work the same day.

The incident happened at 8.30 a.m. last Monday as the bus travelled through Claytown, Hamilton Parish.

Mr. Simmons told The Royal Gazette: "The driver was not injured but did look like a well-powdered baby afterwards, with all that baking soda. I spoke to him later and he was in good spirits. He changed his uniform and went back to work, so he wasn't fazed by it."

But P.J. said: "I take exception to being referred to as 'a well-powdered baby', and I was not fine afterwards. I was sprayed in the face and mouth and had some dizziness afterwards, so did not return to work until Wednesday.

"It was no joke. A fire extinguisher contains chemicals and so I could have been poisoned. Before he picked it up, the man argued and cussed me and even threatened to spit on me."

P.J. added: "I wish people like this man would be more respectful to people in the community and those of us who are just doing our jobs."