分类： society

The Caroni Licensing Office is experiencing unprecedented congestion, with a senior official confirming the facility is completely overwhelmed by the daily influx of vehicles. This crisis has created significant backlogs, forcing numerous motorists to abandon their efforts and return the following day to complete basic transactions.

During a recent site visit, Newsday observed hundreds of vehicles—including cars, trucks, and SUVs—forming extensive queues stretching throughout the compound. The scene revealed drivers sleeping in their vehicles while awaiting access to one of only four inspection bays available.

An anonymous licensing official attributed the sudden surge to recently announced increases in penalty fees for motor vehicle violations. “The system desperately requires modernization,” the official stated, “as it’s fundamentally incapable of handling this volume of motorists seeking to avoid substantial fines.”

Under the new fee structure implemented this month, drivers with permits expired for six months or less now face a $650 late fee, increased from $600. For permits expired beyond six months but under three years, penalties have jumped dramatically from $1,000 to $1,750.

The official acknowledged the system’s limitations but noted solutions require intervention from “higher authorities” who understand budgetary constraints and operational possibilities.

Motorists expressed frustration with the excessive wait times, criticizing the administration’s failure to anticipate the predictable surge following penalty announcements. “They should have foreseen this scenario and implemented appropriate provisions,” one irritated driver commented.

Despite systemic failures, licensing officers received individual praise for their dedication in directing traffic and advising drivers on transaction options under challenging conditions. Officers recommended using the mobile Linx payment van to bypass lengthy cashier lines.

An elderly woman highlighted the system’s customer service deficiencies, noting she’d been waiting since 7 am without bathroom access for fear of losing her place in line. She suggested practical improvements like numbered parking spots with loudspeaker announcements to allow drivers temporary freedom from their vehicles.

Nearby businesses reported operational disruptions due to vehicles queuing outside the compound and blocking access roads. Mark Ammon, a local sales director, proposed expansion of facilities, additional officers, extended hours, and weekend operations to address congestion.

However, skepticism about governmental commitment to improvement prevailed among drivers. One woman gestured toward overflowing trash bins, questioning, “They lack funding for basic cleanliness—how can we expect compound expansion?” She expressed disillusionment with successive administrations’ apparent disregard for motorists’ convenience.

Newsday’s attempts to reach Transport Commissioner Clive Clark regarding potential systemic changes or expansion plans were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has declared an all-out effort to restore critical mental health services for educators after confirming the disruption of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). TTUTA President Crystal Ashe characterized the service interruption as a “grave injustice” in an official January 7 statement, demanding immediate explanations and corrective action from Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath, the Permanent Secretary, and the Chief Personnel Officer.

Ashe emphasized that EAP access represents a legally protected right under the Collective Agreement rather than a discretionary benefit. The crisis emerged when a secondary school teacher attempting to schedule counseling sessions was unexpectedly informed of a $450 per session charge. Service provider Elder Associates Ltd, typically responsible for delivering these services, declined commentary citing ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Education.

The disruption appears to extend beyond the education sector, with healthcare professionals reporting similar service interruptions. A nurse revealed that while alternative counseling arrangements were available within hospital settings, staff expressed discomfort due to privacy concerns about being observed attending sessions.

TT National Nursing Association president Idi Stuart confirmed receiving reports of service disruptions, though Public Services Association president Felisha Thomas remained unreachable for comment. Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo also did not respond to inquiries regarding the widespread service interruption.

An anonymous public servant expressed hope that the situation resulted from contract renegotiations rather than permanent termination, highlighting the critical importance of mental health support particularly given existing social stigmas. The individual shared personal testimony about the program’s vital role during their divorce proceedings, while noting concerning inconsistencies in EAP accessibility across different government ministries, including instances of information withholding and gatekeeping by supervisors.

During a January 7th parliamentary hearing, Trinidad and Tobago’s Joint Select Committee on Land and Physical Infrastructure raised serious concerns about the absence of coordinated national strategies for traffic management. Chaired by Independent Senator Sophia Chote, SC, the committee heard testimony from multiple government agencies regarding persistent traffic congestion issues plaguing the nation.

Committee members highlighted how police and licensing division operations frequently occur during peak traffic hours, exacerbating congestion on major roadways like the Beetham Highway. Housing Minister David Lee expressed public frustration, suggesting these operations appear designed to ‘frustrate the travelling public.’

Transport Commissioner Clive Clarke acknowledged the inconvenience caused by joint police-licensing exercises but clarified that while he cannot cancel these operations, he can instruct officers to minimize motorist disruption. Clarke revealed the Licensing Authority is pursuing technological solutions to reduce physical interventions, noting ongoing digitization efforts for driver licenses and vehicle registration data.

Acting Commissioner of Police Brian Soodeen defended the timing of operations as ‘intelligence-led,’ though Senator Chote questioned this rationale, noting that peak hours seem counterproductive for catching offenders attempting to avoid detection.

The hearing revealed critical infrastructure shortcomings, including a dramatic reduction in traffic warden staffing from 531 to 232 personnel nationwide. Chief Traffic Warden Neville Sankar stated Trinidad requires approximately 325 additional wardens for effective deployment, with specific needs in Chaguanas (36) and San Fernando (42). Notably, Tobago currently has no traffic warden coverage.

Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlath raised concerns about school-related congestion, while Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein criticized the lack of dynamic resource allocation to high-congestion areas. The committee also learned that a traffic camera project on Wrightson Road remains incomplete due to contractor foreign exchange problems.

Most alarmingly, acting director of highways Patrice Caprieta revealed Trinidad and Tobago’s last comprehensive transportation study occurred in 1967, highlighting the urgent need for updated infrastructure planning. Despite recent public surveys, Civil Aviation and Transport Ministry permanent secretary Nicolette Duke assured the committee the ministry would avoid ‘analysis paralysis’ in developing solutions.

In a decisive address on January 7, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar unveiled a dual-strategy approach to tackle rampant traffic violations, blending stringent enforcement with temporary leniency. While vowing “swift and brutal retribution” against deliberate lawbreakers, she simultaneously announced upcoming parliamentary reforms to introduce grace periods for drivers to rectify vehicle defects.

The policy shift comes amid public outcry over sharply increased penalties, including doubled fines for expired inspection stickers—now $2,000—and revised late fees for permit renewals. The Ministry of Works and Transport acknowledged an administrative error in fee collection, revealing that drivers were initially undercharged due to a January 5 oversight. Corrected penalties now stand at $650 for permits expired under six months and $1,750 for those expired beyond six months but under three years.

Persad-Bissessar’s statement, titled “Fix It or Face the Law,” condemned the “blatant dishonesty” of ticketed drivers who claimed surprise about vehicle defects, asserting most knew their violations in advance. She attributed nationwide traffic chaos to “entitlement, indiscipline and misdirected priorities” but also acknowledged systemic issues within enforcement, revealing that a minority of traffic wardens and officers were “abusing the ticketing system and terrorizing law-abiding citizens.”

The proposed reforms will mandate repair windows before fines are enforced: three days for most defects (e.g., faulty lights, missing mirrors) and seven days for more significant issues like broken windshields, smoky exhausts, or noisy vehicles. The PM emphasized that while these temporary measures provide compliance opportunities, there would be “NO REDUCTION in traffic fines” and strict enforcement would continue until parliamentary approval.

Concluding with an unequivocal warning, Persad-Bissessar declared the law would apply equally regardless of political affiliation, wealth, or geographic origin, stating: “If you break the traffic laws, ANYBODY GETS IT!!!”

Street vendors in Port of Spain are mounting opposition against the city’s proposed sanitation initiative while demanding expanded working rights and protection from illegal competitors. The conflict emerged during a tense meeting between vendors and Port of Spain City Corporation officials at City Hall Auditorium on January 6, where representatives from Charlotte Street, Frederick Street, and other commercial areas voiced their concerns.

The corporation’s $18 million clean city initiative, announced in October 2025, involves acquiring garbage compactors and amending public health regulations. Deputy Mayor Abena Hartley cited warnings from multiple government agencies about severe public health and safety concerns caused by current vending practices, exacerbated by the absence of comprehensive legislation.

Proposed regulations would require vendors to completely remove all merchandise from streets daily, prohibiting overnight storage in stalls or on pavements. Corporation engineering assistant Sinclair Collis emphasized the cleaning challenges posed by leftover crates and produce, which contribute to drainage clogging, urban flooding, food decomposition odors, and expanding rat infestations in underground systems.

Vendor representatives called the proposals impractical. Junior Lewis, vice president of the Charlotte Street Vendors Association, argued that moving heavy produce daily would create physical and logistical impossibilities for many operators. Female vendors particularly highlighted the excessive physical demands and additional costs involved.

Beyond sanitation concerns, vendors challenged the fundamental structure of their operating permissions. Currently limited to Thursday through Saturday sales, vendors described the three-day work week as economically unsustainable. Petra Cayman, a Frederick Street jewelry vendor, called the arrangement “a death sentence” in Trinidad’s high-cost living environment, noting that missed opportunities during cruise ship season further diminish earnings.

Vendors also identified illegal operators as a significant problem, with unregistered competitors undercutting prices without paying fees or rents. Additional complaints included inadequate street lighting affecting safety during high crime periods, noise pollution from adjacent businesses, and unreliable garbage collection services that exacerbate sanitation issues.

Deputy Mayor Hartley acknowledged the corporation’s constrained resources, revealing drastic budget cuts from $19 million to approximately $4 million for infrastructure maintenance. This reduction has impacted the vending management team’s capacity to provide support. Vending program manager Deon Samm encouraged stricter adherence to fee payments, rental agreements, and health regulations to maintain operational continuity.

Further consultations are planned with vendors, the Works and Infrastructure Ministry, and the Fire Service to develop updated vending contracts that balance public health concerns with vendor livelihoods.