THE TRANSPORT AUTHORITY is contemplating a tracking system to monitor the operation of public service vehicles (PSVs).
Chairman Ian Estwick said though GPS monitoring would require substantial funding, the Authority would shortly be reopening discussions with the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance.
It was the likely answer to the problem of PSVs not completing the route to which they are assigned, an issue highlighted by Member of Parliament for Christ Church East Wilfred Abrahams during yesterday’s Estimates debate. He described it as a “vexing” situation.
Estwick, who was speaking from the Well of the House of Assembly, explained there was a shortage of inspectors at the Barbados Licensing Authority to monitor the situation. He also said commuters were not willing to come forward to give evidence when complaints were made.
But Abrahams did not accept Estwick’s explanation. Instead, he suggested “somebody” from the Transport Authority ought to be placed in Fairy Valley, Christ Church, one of the problem areas, to wait for a bus, so that that officer could then be in a position to report to the Authority on the operation of the ZRs.
“If the people are not supplying the service for which they are licensed, then their licences should be taken away. It should not be left to the discretion and the whims and fancies of a couple people whether or not they comply with a licence issued by the Government,” Abrahams argued. “I am urging the Transport Authority to take this a little more seriously because people and communities are suffering.” ( GC)
