Weekly Round-up: Taxi drivers protest… $17-m MoBay welcome sign… 2 taxi drivers amass over 1,500 tickets
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hundreds of transport operators across several parishes took to the streets this week in protest of the new Road Traffic Act which was passed with amendments in the House of Representatives a week ago to repeal and replace the existing 1938 Act,
Chief among the concerns for operators is the Government’s plan to penalise motorists for road traffic breaches that are detected by traffic cameras and other electronic devices.
Transport Minister, Robert Montague in response on Tuesday, a day after the protests began, insisted that there is a miscommunication among transport operators and owners who believe that they are being targeted by the State with the new amendments.
Meanwhile, following an outcry from a wide cross-section of the population, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett on Wednesday ordered a full review of the $17 million budgeted for the ‘Welcome to Montego Bay’ sign and attraction following an announcement on Monday that it is slated to be completed in December.
On the crime scene, the police on Tuesday nabbed two Corporate Area taxi drivers who reportedly have more than 700 traffic tickets each.
Watch as OBSERVER ONLINE wraps this week for you.
See story links below:
Taxi drivers ‘under pressure’, protest new Road Traffic Act
Transport minister says road traffic law amendments apply to all
TA refutes claim of $75-k fine for PPV badge infractions
Police warn protesting taxi drivers to desist from blocking roads, intimidating road users
Prime minister announces plan to address squatting
UNDP urges Jamaica to implement paternity leave
Jamaica suspends importation of romaine lettuce
Police seek power to access phone data
Public defender outlines shabby conditions for detainees in St James SOE
Two taxi drivers amass over 1,500 outstanding traffic tickets
One dead, three injured in Santa Cruz shooting
Man who fled Trench Town after teen’s murder held in Trelawny
Reggae Warriors captain optimistic about JA’s Rugby World Cup bid
North Street battle to decide 2018 Manning Cup champions
Australia crush Windies by 71 runs to reach Women’s World T20 final
