Nearing completion

When the amendments to the Road Traffic Act finally get to Parliament, within those amendments will be a provision aimed at preventing littering on the highway.

 

According to Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Philip North and Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley, that action will become an offence for the first time. He made the disclosure as he admitted that the changes to that piece of legislation have taken some time to finalise, but he said that they are moving closer to completion, as they expect to obtain the Attorney General’s certificate soon. The Transport and Works Minister’s comments came as he made his contribution to the debate in the House of Assembly on the resolution to approve The Barbados Green Economy Scoping Study.

 

The St. Philip North MP was speaking about a number of developments in his ministry with regard to promoting the green economy, as he disclosed that the much awaited amendments to the Road Traffic Act will also address the growing and “serious problem” of abandoned vehicles being seen on the highway. Lashley told Members of Parliament on both sides of the political divide that these vehicles are contributing to the obstruction of traffic and in some cases are posing a threat to the health of persons in the communities where they are, or those nearby.

 

As such, he explained that while the Chief Technical Officer in his Ministry has the authority under the Highway Act to take the “necessary action” where those vehicles are concerned, they have decided to give the holder of that office “more teeth” as it relates to the issue. Lashley explained then that once the amendments to the Road Traffic Act are made, vehicle abandonment too will become an offence. (JRT)