The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) is launching an Emergency Drivers and Assistants’ Pool to help clear streets and properties after the impact of systems this hurricane season.
AOPT chairman Roy Raphael disclosed on Friday that a list is being drawn up of specialist drivers who are licensed to operate heavy-duty vehicles – such as tractors – who can be called upon to volunteer their services in the event of a disaster.
He said this would supplement the Government’s resources.
“This list will [comprise] those persons who have skills in terms of driving. They can now register with the organisation so that in the case of an emergency, we can utilise . . . those persons who offer their services to drive. We ourselves will assist the Government with the names of those persons in case of an emergency or disaster,” Raphael told Barbados TODAY.
“So the association is making an appeal to those [PSV] drivers, and also to those persons who have the necessary skills…. Although we have close to 300 PSV drivers, all might not be able to come out and assist at the same time. These persons will be specially trained to deal with disaster and disaster management,” he added.
Raphael said his organisation is part of a special transport emergency committee established by the Government.
“This committee basically is administered by the Ministry of Transport, that in the case of emergency, they would be calling all persons to volunteer their time, such as the Defence Force, because they would be responsible for transportation to clear trees, drive tractors and big vehicles.
“Yes, we may have a number of persons out there we may be able to call upon like ZR drivers and other public service vehicles, but we are not only opening it up to persons who have a ZR or minibus licence,” he explained.
The AOPT chairman added that his organisation has some responsibility to work with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to provide drivers under the special arrangement.
He also said that during the year, AOPT will work with the ministry to provide special disaster training for members as well as interested members of the public. (EJ)
