IT’S OFFICIAL!

After several months in the works, former employees of the Transport Board are now officially part of the Transportation Augmentation Programme (TAP) and will be helping to meet the transportation needs of commuters.

Those retrenched workers have formed a co-operative – the United Transporters’ Co-operative (UTC) – through which they have signed up to the TAP, and funding for the vehicles they intend to use have come from the state-owed FundAccess. Yesterday in a press briefing at the Warrens Office Complex to officially start the disbursement of the funds to the UTC members, it was revealed some $2.5 million has been earmarked for these individuals, 19 of which have already been interviewed.

Speaking to the media after the briefing, General Manager of FundAccess, Esther Lord-Graham, indicated that so far nine of the 19 who have already been interviewed and approved, have received their funds, and the remaining 10 should have their funds in hand by next Friday. She went on to say that the remaining 19 former employees of the Transport Board are in their interview process and should be in a position to get their money soon.

Meanwhile, Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce, Dwight Sutherland, told media personnel that the loans to the former Transport Board workers range from $25,000 to $130,000 and covers such things as the cost of the vehicles, insurance and registration with the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance.

“Persons would have put in some of their own capital... but we have allocated during the interviews up to as high as $130,000. All members of the TAP programme, the money has been allocated for them,” he said.

Speaking earlier during the press briefing, the Minister said that the funds provided were helping to empower and enfranchise ordinary Barbadians, through participation and ownership.

“Today speaks volumes to us as a Government [and] the commitment that we made to the people of this country... I want to thank the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, the Prime Minister of this country, whose vision and whose passion is about giving the ordinary man and woman in this country his [or her] fair share of economic empowerment,” he said.

Minister Sutherland added, “Because beyond the ordinary man and ordinary woman, and beyond investment that comes either through foreign direct investment or investment from persons coming to these shores, we have a duty to the citizens of this country; we have a duty to the ordinary man and woman of this country; we have a duty to our children of this country and we have a duty to leave a legacy that come 50 years down the road when we are gone ... to see that intergenerational wealth is a reality in this country and created by members of the United Transporters’ Co-operative Limited.”

His comments came as he said that the TAP is indeed necessary to help meet the needs of commuters across the island and provide the very critical transportation system in this country. With that in mind, he urged the UTC members present, not to underestimate the role that they will play, as a lack of transportation can negatively impact on productivity.

“If you look at the loss of value to companies by only one worker getting to work late; one worker with the keys to open an institution can impact significantly commerce in this country and other businesses,” he said.

The Minister went on to say that he is certain that when all 38 former employees receive their funds, they will be well positioned to positively impact this country’s economy.

At present there are two buses owned by UTC members operating under the TAP, that are already on the road. The vehicles owned by Wayne Watson and Michael Carrington are operating from the Princess Alice and Fairchild Street terminals respectively servicing various routes as required. (JRT)