Bad behaviour in mini-buses high on police complaints list

Most people who attended the first Customer Appreciation Day initiative, hosted by the traffic department of Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), complained about issues with the nation’s minivans.

On Thursday, March 5, 2026, the department held its Customer Appreciation Day in an effort to strengthen relationships with motorists and members of the public.

The initiative gave citizens an opportunity to meet officers, raise concerns about road safety and traffic management, and engage directly with the police.

Officer in Charge of Traffic, Transport and Garage, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Parnel Browne, said the event was designed to highlight the importance of the public in the department’s work.

ASP Browne commented that the customer is the department’s greatest asset, and the police need the persons living here and those visiting to feel comfortable when traversing the streets.

“This is the first…day of its kind in the police force, and we hope it will continue in the future,” ASP Brown noted, while adding that the initiative also came amidst recent public discussions surrounding traffic enforcement and incidents involving officers.

“If you have a problem or concern, you can come in, sit with us, and we will document your concern and see how best we can deal with it,” he added. ASP Brown said initiatives such as Customer Appreciation Day help foster stronger cooperation between the police and the public, which ultimately contributes to safer roads.

Among those attending the event was Minister of The Family and Gender Affairs Lavern Gibson-Velox who praised the initiative as a positive step toward improving road safety.

“I think it is a great initiative because it is all about safety,” the minister said.

“Our families have to travel safely every day, and we place that responsibility in the hands of the Traffic Department.”

Members of the public also welcomed the opportunity to engage with officers. One member of the public commented that the event provided a valuable platform for motorists to share their concerns.

“It gives me a good opportunity to get to know the traffic officers and talk with them,” he said.

“Some of the issues I raised included loud music in minibuses and reckless driving,” he added, while revealing that he recently confronted a minibus driver about dangerous driving, warning that he would exit the minivan at the next police station and report the matter to the police.

“I told him I wasn’t paying for him to kill me,” the man commented.

Sergeant Philip King noted that several issues were raised by pedestrians and motorists during the event, particularly concerns about speeding and parking.

He said people complained about parking in Kingstown and the Cane Garden area, and added that the police will be dealing with motorists who park on both sides of the road along the Long Wall area, an issue he said can create serious obstructions and increase the risk of accidents.

He noted that the police have already placed no-parking signs in some areas and will continue to monitor the situation through periodic patrols.

“We recognize that these areas experience heavy traffic, especially in the mornings and afternoons, and we will be paying closer attention to ensure the free flow of traffic,” Sergeant King said.

Another officer Sergeant Keron Caesar, a veteran officer with more than two decades in the police force, said common complaints raised by the public included loud music in minibuses, reckless driving, and poor road etiquette. He stressed that safety must remain the priority for all road users.

“Our concern at the traffic branch is safety,” she said.

“Drivers often focus on getting to work or getting home quickly, but you must be safe first before you can reach your destination.”