00:00As the Transport Ministry more under the loss of a licensing officer who was killed in a road traffic accident
00:06in Komuto,
00:07Transport Minister Elisa Kuro continued his contribution to a debate in the House of Representatives in Port of Spain
00:13on a motion on road safety moved by Opposition MP Marvin Gonzalez.
00:18I just want to highlight what I would have already mentioned.
00:22What we have done in the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation for road safety.
00:26I would have mentioned the rehabilitation program, the speed devices, which was launched just about two weeks ago,
00:35the fixed penalty warning, the increase in fines.
00:38Opposition MP Hans De Beans told the opposition line against the increase in traffic fines
00:44as he quoted from a newspaper article published in April 2024.
00:48The speaker that she is quoting is saying,
00:53We must explore alternatives to fines and suspensions.
00:58Who will feed their families when they can't earn a living?
01:02Arguing at the point in time that traffic fines are too high.
01:07She promised.
01:09Hear the word, hear the word.
01:11She promised.
01:12Missed.
01:14A UNC government will reduce traffic fines across the board
01:17and implement state-sponsored driver education programs instead.
01:23Opposition MP Dominic Romain had earlier made a comparison.
01:27When it is that the PNM was proposing, well not the PNM, sorry,
01:30the RIC was proposing to increase electricity rates,
01:33there was consultation to all the population.
01:36Members opposite went to every consultation.
01:38Could you run back and I'll drag in coffee?
01:42Whole noise.
01:43Mass.
01:50But 100 and 150 percent increase in fines.
01:54No consultation.
01:55Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Richard Citron,
01:58defended the government's position.
02:00I'd like to tell this Honourable House
02:02that when you increase utility bills,
02:05the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago
02:07would have to pay that month after month,
02:09year after year.
02:11What we are doing,
02:13what we have done with fines,
02:15increasing fines,
02:16they apply only to those who break the law.
02:23The Transport Minister had a question for the opposition.
02:26We are also establishing a road safety unit
02:30as part of our broader road safety agenda as well.
02:34Now, very soon we'll be launching a road safety campaign.
02:38And I want to ask the members opposite,
02:40what did you all do in 10 years
02:42regarding a road safety campaign?
02:44What did you all do?
02:46Minister Zikourou spoke about
02:47what the government intends to do
02:49regarding another part of his portfolio.
02:52The Ministry also launched a park and ride survey
02:55where very soon we'll be opening registrations
02:58for park and ride
02:58where persons in Arima, San Fernando and Coover,
03:03Chagones and Coover,
03:05could join a park and ride
03:07via maxi-taxi concessionaires or PTSE
03:10and come into Port of Spain.
03:12The Transport Minister also announced a proposal
03:14for a checkered-banned maxi-taxi system
03:17for underserved rural communities.
03:20Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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