Government is seeking to right what it considers a wrong by reversing a section of the Road Traffic Amendment Act (2017), which prohibits people under the age of 25 from obtaining a heavy-duty driving license as well obtaining a public service vehicle (PSV) license.
In tabling the Road Traffic Amendment Bill (2022) in the House of Assembly, Minister of Transport Santia Bradshaw disclosed that for the past 5 years licenses were being issued to people under the age of 25 for heavy [duty] vehicles which she said was in direct breach of the 2017 legislation.
“[This] resulted in a call from the Barbados Police Service (BPS) to the chief licensing officer, highlighting the discrepancy.
It essentially meant that the [BPS] was unable to arrest persons because they could produce a valid license,” she said.
Bradshaw added that due to this error being highlighted, the “chief licensing officer suspended the issuance of permits” which negatively impacted young people who used the license for work in various programmes.
She said Government’s attempt to reverse this 2017 amendment is in hopes of helping young people secure more employment in related fields. (AL)
