de Shong: Efforts being made to boost transport portfolio

The Ministry of Transport and Works and several land transport stakeholders met last week to bring to the fore the importance of a regulatory system which would govern their activities.{{more}}

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works Luis de Shong said the ministry is seeking to develop a safer environment for the vehicular and pedestrian public.

According to de Shong, the transport portfolio previously concentrated on the “Works” aspect of its programme but efforts are being made to fulfil the ministry’s entire mandate.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT shortly after the July 15, 2010, de Shong said :”What we’re doing is to make efforts to give some more focus to our transport portfolio.We in the Ministry of Transport and Works over the years have focussed enormously or we have focussed primarily on the Works portfolio and have not given enough emphasis to the Transport portfolio.”

de Shong stated since the creation of the Transport portfolio, the ministry has been focusing primarily on the management of the operations of the school bus system, i.e. the routes, maintenance and repair, non-school usage, as well as the management and processing of payments of the transport subsidy, which was initiated by the Government to stabilize commuter fares during a period of high fuel prices in the domestic and international markets by providing support to private operators of the public transport system.

“The meeting was designed to initiate some contact with The Taxi Drivers’ Association, The Minibus Association, The Omnibus Association, The St.Vincent and the Grenadines Insurance Associations and the Department of Inland Revenue,” said de Shong of the initial meeting.

He said follow-up meetings will be held with individual stakeholders that attended the session.

de Shong disclosed that his ministry will also be looking into activities which take place on mini-buses when students are aboard.

Minister of Transport and Works Clayton Burgin; Luis de Shong, Permanet Secretary; Brent Bailey, Chief Engineer; Aubrey Burgin, Senior Assistant Secretary and Elizabeth Williams, Transport Officer participated in the meeting.