00:00Every transport officer, by that I mean every licensing officer knows that an ambulance is classified as an emergency vehicle and therefore we do not stop ambulances during operation and more specifically if that ambulance do have their siren and their lights on.
00:22Transport Commissioner Clive Clark then clarified that it was a woman police constable who approached the ambulance and not licensing officers.
00:52He then confirmed there was an emergency and allowed the ambulance to come out of the line and proceed through the traffic or proceed through the roadblock at no time did any licensing officer interface or interact with that or prohibit that ambulance in any way from carrying out its duty.
01:17Other sources tell TV6 that the ambulance was stopped by licensing officers and police who approached the driver and asked about the nature of the emergency.
01:29It was then relayed that a critically ill patient was on board. With this answer, the ambulance was given way to proceed.
01:37Contacted on the matter, Police Road Safety Coordinator Sergeant Batson told TV6 News both ambulances and police vehicles can be stopped by licensing officers. Under the law, licensing officers can stop ambulances and police vehicles once the hands of the officer is raised.
01:59THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustin said on Monday that the matter is being investigated.
02:05Meantime, Transport Commissioner Clark said while there has been some opposition to the presence of licensing officers in Tobago, many on the ground in Tobago are praising the officers.
02:18I must say in Tobago though we have been getting some positive, very positive reactions from people on the ground, from registered owners, from drivers and the average citizen.
02:30The need for us to be here to lend that level of assistance. Any time you have enforcement or you have a call to do that which is right, let me say you will always have me say it.
02:44He is very concerned about people not abiding by the law.
02:48As Transport Commissioner, I do have some serious concerns with the fact that our records are showing a number of duplicated vehicles in Tobago, a number of vehicles visiting the inspection stations with tampered chassis.
03:02When there is an increase in that, we know that they are breeding ground for stolen vehicles. Therefore, we took the time to come up with TTPS and the forensic division.
03:13He said they have discovered many cases of non-compliance.
03:18One of the things though is that the new inspection system seems to be giving us a revelation of certain things in licensing that happened in the past.
03:26As Transport Commissioner, I have serious concerns. It is revealing malpractices by staff, by members of the public.
03:35Vehicles are showing up as duplicates. Vehicles are showing up as being registered twice. Vehicles are showing up as never being registered.
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