00:02connect with us on facebook at ccn tv6 trinidad and tobago on x using the handle at tv6 tnt on
00:14instagram hashtag tv6 tnt and via our website www.tv6tnt.com the fate of a maxi taxi driver
00:25who was involved in an altercation with licensing officers is yet to be determined the man was
00:30detained by police on monday following the incident reporter lise boucher and cameraman
00:35shifa parisram bring you an update to the story that was aired exclusively on tv6
00:42as at tuesday morning rue 3 maxi taxi driver ronald bowen who had an altercation with licensing
00:49officers yesterday was still in police custody news coming to tv6 is that he was taken
00:55for a medical checkup however there are concerns coming from both the route 3 maxi taxi driver
01:01association as well as the transport commissioner tv6 news spoke to transport commissioner clive
01:07clark this morning for an update on the situation he was yet to receive an official report on the
01:13incident clark says based on section 9 of the motor vehicles and road traffic act assaulting a
01:19transport officer constitutes a summary offense so these are things that i'm looking to see
01:26what come out what comes out of this and also too i'm very mindful to the fact that we continue
01:32to encourage our officers to share a level of professionalism during the course of the operation
01:39a video has now surfaced of another incident involving the driver
01:57question as to whether he has checked into any previous infractions by the driver
02:01the transport commissioner says he did but he would only say that he is concerned
02:06clark notes that licensing officers have the right to intercept motorists who they believe to be
02:12committing a road traffic offense whether they are on an official road exercise or not he tells us
02:19that given the sensitive nature of the active police investigation he is unable to say why bowen was
02:24stopped by the officers president of the route 3 maxi taxi association vikash kisundas believes
02:31the situation could have been handled better on all fronts as a maxi taxi operator he should not have
02:38the subway should not have been operating and behaving in the house time and at any point in time
02:43on the whole licensing officers we have if you will not be i should say the public as i see
02:48with them
02:49there's a stigma attached to them that they they behave like they are above the law and they could do
02:54what
02:55they want when they want and speak to people how they want now again i will also lament again that
03:02we
03:02need to have these officers and properly well treated in public service is that public service that they
03:08provided they need to be service oriented they need to know how to deal with the public kisundath is
03:14calling on the transport commissioner to ensure that the necessary public service training is done
03:19there are a few licensing officers who are armed and while there has been advocacy for the arming of
03:24more officers clark says that is a topic up for deeper discussion we put forward um the matter to
03:31the prominent secretary um about a year or two ago and um we are currently receiving the attention of
03:38that i want to say firearm or device is serious business because you have to ensure substantially ensure
03:44persons are trained i'm not talking about i'm not talking about going through the physical training
03:49and again the mental training you have to look at that the aptitude you know in terms of the the
03:55aptitude and so forth before you consider arming the arming someone clark says the present environment
04:02isn't as friendly as it was previously and he tells us that they are exploring other avenues of ensuring that
04:08licensing officers are able to defend themselves meanwhile the association says it will let the
04:14law take its course on the matter the incident has spawned a public commentary with many condoning bowen's
04:20actions but kisundath is seeking to issue a word of advice to members of the association and by extension
04:26the motoring public i would say don't let this get out of hand where we now think we can just
04:34be
04:34you know vigilantes out here dealing with licensing officers and people in authority at the end of
04:40the day the licensing officers are the authority figures on the roadway and let us do get out of
04:47hands alicia boucher tv6 news meanwhile the dnt police service has issued a press release confirming
04:54that the maxi taxi driver has been arrested in connection with the assault on a licensing officer
04:59which occurred in curep police say they received the report of the incident while on mobile patrol
05:05around 10 30 a.m on monday when they arrived they interviewed a licensing officer who reported that
05:11he was assaulted by a green band maxi taxi driver while executing his duties the officer alleged that
05:18the assailant used his fist and struck him twice in his face and also chased the licensing authority
05:25vehicle with a wheel spanner the licensing officer also claimed that the driver subsequently left the
05:31scene police said while conducting inquiries officers went to the carony licensing office
05:36where the suspect was identified and arrested for the offense the suspect's age 27 he's from edinburgh 500
05:44shagornas and the licensing officer were taken to the saint joseph police station where inquiries are
05:51while continuing into the matter
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