Driver’s licences coming soon

The long wait to get renewed driver’s licences is almost at an end.

Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance Ian Gooding-Edghill disclosed on Wednesday that Government, through the Barbados Licensing Authority (BLA), had ordered 100 000 cards.

“The chief licensing officer has advised me that the 100 000 cards are due to arrive this month,” Gooding-Edghill said on Voice of Barbados’ call-in programme Down to Brass Tacks.

His disclosure came on the heels of complaints from people who have been unable to get updated cards.

The Minister explained that no “ordinary plastic card” could be used to print the Barbados driver’s licence because it contains security features.

“The card has to be specially designed and manufactured and they are embedded with security features to reduce counterfeit and fraud which could compromise Barbados’ good reputation abroad,” he said.

Gooding-Edghill said the BLA had already devised a plan to roll out the distribution of the licences and would work extended hours to expedite the process.

“We will have them delivered through a process. We are working through a courier service to see if we can achieve that objective, but that is the plan.

“You may ask, for example, why it took so long? Unfortunately, the contractor was based in the United States – a contractor that the Licensing Authority has worked with and they are known  for their integrity and we had to contract them to do it for us. At the point when the inventory levels were running low, we tried our best to get them here. The challenge, though, would have been that we have significant chain supply issues outside of Barbados and, as a result, . . . that has impacted us. It is not an excuse but is simply a fact. But I can tell you the cards are going to be here month end and we are going to distribute those,” he stated.

Gooding-Edghill added: “Those customers who would have already paid online for the delivery of their renewed driver’s licence will also obtain theirs via the Postal Service – that is the special courier service we work with through the Post Office.” (FW)