News
Roll back UNFAIR Ordinance say Public Service Drivers
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, November 10, 2023 – Public Service Vehicle Operators are calling on the government to adjust sections of the Road Traffic Ordinance which they describe as outdated and unfair to members of their profession.
Several frustrated drivers spoke out both on social media and directly to Magnetic Media on the strict process for renewing their licenses. The outcry was prompted by a recent meeting to which drivers turned out in the hundreds anticipating open dialogue on these issues but were unable to share their concerns effectively due to the absence of key stakeholders.
Under the Road Traffic Ordinance, the Governor controls via regulation the conditions by which a license is granted. Those regulations must be followed by the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), formerly known as the Road Safety Department.
Currently, the Director must consider how many operators already have a license before granting another. Additionally, licenses expire after one year, and if drivers miss the 60-day renewal period they could be forced to
Drivers tell us this has resulted in a quota system where a specific amount of licenses are to be in operation at any time. No exceptions can be made on the renewal period, if this 60-day deadline for reapplication is missed, the DMV has a right to void an operator’s license, take back those plates and give them to other qualified applicants.
As operators cannot legally carry passengers without the specific plates, missing the deadline can effectively shut down their livelihoods.
When Magnetic Media checked, the ordinance did not mention exceptions for illness, travel, or otherwise. In addition, the news team has seen response letters supposedly from the DMV indicating that the office does not have the authority to grant extensions, being bound by law.
One driver pointed out that no other licensee in Turks and Caicos business is forced to close up for tardiness in paying government regulated fees. That same driver pointed out the law was nearly 40 years old and in desperate need of modernization.
Operators speaking to the news team say this must change, and they are asking Otis Morris, Minister of Home Affairs to look into updating the Ordinance so they no longer lose their licenses if they miss a payment period but are punished with a less harsh penalty like a late fine. This is the process for other business license holders.
They also want the quota of drivers to increase to match the rapidly expanding tourism industry.