Twelve
motor cars have been added to the fleet of the Transport Authority, which will
be used to improve the authority's capacity to monitor and regulate the public
transportation sector.
Managing Director at the Transport Authority, Ralston Smith (second right), cuts the ribbon to officially hand over 12 motor vehicles during a ceremony held at the Authority’s Maxfield Avenue offices in Kingston today. Others (from left) are Board Chairman, Transport Authority, Owen Ellington; new recruit at the Authority, Melissa Duncan; and Driver, Clovis Ashmede.
Managing
Director of the Transport Authority, Ralston Smith, said acquisition of the
vehicles represents a significant investment in the organisation's future and
“symbolises our commitment to retooling our operational apparatus”.
“Indeed,
it is part of our effort to rebrand the Operations Division,” Smith said during
the handover ceremony held at the Authority's Maxfield Avenue offices in
Kingston today.
He
also informed that the Transport Authority is advanced in its effort of rebranding,
through the establishment of a uniform committee, which is tasked with
reviewing the uniform, logo and other paraphernalia for the inspectorate,
coupled with a fusion of technological support to come on stream in the ensuing
months.
“Among
them is our e-ticketing system to replace the antiquated summons system and of
course, radio communication and other technological devices to support the work
of the Operations Division,” Smith said.
“With the cars being relatively new, we expect
their impact on the environment to be very negligent in terms of carbon
emission and, therefore, we are confident that they will provide a faster and
more efficient means of carrying out our daily activities, both in terms of
operations and investigations,” he added.
He
noted that the vehicles will help the Transport Authority to maintain a high
visibility in the town centres, cities and at various hotspots across the
country.
The
managing director further stated that the vehicles will be used not just for
operational activities but also for commuter engagement, information sharing
and gathering intelligence.
“I
encourage our inspectors and drivers to treat these vehicles as you treat your
own; let us care these vehicles. I charge you, therefore, to continue to be a
beacon for the authority, continue to offer excellent service to the public, be
kind to each other, and be examples for the new recruits,” Smith said.
Meanwhile,
Chairman of the Transport Authority, Owen Ellington, emphasised the need for
the entity to procure more vehicles.
“[There
is] a need to build out on your mobility, and I think you need to carefully
assess the requirements for patrols and presence on the road and commit to
deploying a minimum number of cars with people in each of the regions that you
serve,” Ellington said.
Courtesy: The Gleaner
