TODSS boss wants cabbies and cops to get along

Egeton Newman, president of Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services, is concerned about the ongoing challenges in the relationship between transport operators and the police, and wants to see an improvement in both communication and understanding.

According to Newman, the transport operators recently had a good meeting with Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, during which some concerns were addressed. However, he remains concerned about contentious situations regarding the issuing of traffic tickets.

"With regards to the legal part of it, the hearing of the tickets, the action by the court, I think that is where we lost a bit in terms of not getting the good audience and good service in the courts, especially at the two traffic courts in Kingston and St Andrew," said Newman.

He said that he is also concerned about inadequate parking facilities, especially in the Kingston metropolitan area, and what he described as the harassment of operators by members of the security forces.

"More interaction should be held between us and the new commissioner of police. We have an excellent relationship with the head of the traffic (department) because we communicate with them and vice versa," said Newman.

He also told THE WEEKEND STAR that he is in full support of the installation of cameras inside and outside of public transport, to monitor interactions with passengers and police.

Security expert Robert Finzi-Smith, who also wants to see a better relationship between transport operators and the police, said there was an effort some time ago to establish a security task force for public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators but it was not taken seriously by the drivers.

"The PPV operators have always complained that they have been short-changed, and I don't think it has changed," said Finzi-Smith, who also recalled suggesting the use of cameras in vehicles to monitor interactions.