Licensing ‘delays force PSV operators to halt services’

Some public service vehicle owners say lengthy delays in receiving inspection results from the Barbados Licensing Authority have left them unable to renew permits and keep their vehicles on the road, their spokesman disclosed on Thursday.

“Some members have been waiting for upwards of six weeks to get their results so that they can pay for their vehicles,” Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport, Roy Raphael, told Barbados TODAY. “I have spoken to the chief licensing officer on this matter and she did give me the assurance that she would look into it, but to this day, it would appear that there are people waiting for as much as six weeks to get a result to go and pay for their permit.

“Although we are talking about a shortage of public service vehicles operating on the road, people can’t get home after 6 o’clock, there is a long delay, but yet we are faced with this event where you cannot get your results to go and pay for your vehicle.”

He warned that a number of buses will have to be taken off the road if the matter is not resolved urgently.

“And it is a concern to us,” Raphael declared. “This matter needs to be addressed and addressed urgently. I am urging the Barbados Licensing Authority, as well as the Ministry of Transport and Works, to look into this matter, so that people can get their results and go and pay for their permits. It means that if this doesn’t happen, a number of persons will be off the road, because already we are faced with persons having to go for inspection, and to find now that after you have gone in for inspection, you are told that they are not dealing with public service vehicles’ inspection at this stage.”

When contacted, Chief Technical Officer of the Ministry of Transport and Works, Jennifer King, referred Barbados TODAY to Chief Licensing Officer Treca McCarthy-Broomes, who requested she be sent a text message. However, there was no response up to press time.

Raphael suggested that the Licensing Authority “needs to get their act in order”.

He contended that PSV workers are already facing too many challenges, including difficulty in obtaining badges as required by law.

He said: “We are facing too many issues for them there where the badges are concerned. I am not certain if that has been resolved. But there are some persons who are reporting that they were unable to get a badge… a conductor’s badge or a driver’s badge, when the law requires that you must have your badge displayed. You can’t pay for your badge if you don’t have a piece of paper. That’s not making any sense.”

The inability to get inspection results is also affecting taxi operators: “There are people who bring in new taxis that can’t get their results so that they can continue with their livelihood.” (EJ)