KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz, says the concerns raised by all parties involved in the transport sector have been heard and are being reviewed.

This after a meeting between transport operators and other stakeholders on Tuesday.

Minister Vaz who made an unannounced visit at the meeting, mandated the stakeholders to provide him with a “full review” of the issues raised by transport operators.

“I came in person to make sure that I give them the mandate that I want a full review of the issues that have been raised by the transport operators. I cannot say what the result will be but everybody would have got a fair share and a fair hearing. Some of the concerns that they have raised are legitimate concerns,” he said, outlining that the meeting was born out of the need to address all of the concerns expressed by public and private motorists.

The meeting involved members of the Transport Authority, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Island Traffic Authority, Members of the Public Transport Operators Steering Committee and Technical representatives from the ministry, representatives from Jamaica Association of Transport Owners and Operators, National Council of Taxi Association, All Voice, National Transport Alliance Group, Spanish Town Taxi Association, Jamaica Association of Hackney Contract Carriage and other sector operators.

One of the concerns addressed at the gathering involved the issue of suspension of drivers’ licence on account of accumulated demerit points.

Observer Online understands that a decision was taken to further discuss the matter at another meeting in the coming week.

According to a release on Tuesday, following the completion of that exercise, the recommendation(s) will be made to the transport minister for his consideration.

The issue of individuals who have already reached the threshold of demerit points for suspension of licences, up to the point of the review, will also be addressed in future meetings.

Tuesday’s meeting came after islandwide strike action by numerous taxi operators left commuters stranded on Monday.

READ: St James taxi operators join islandwide strike over alleged mistreatment

While admitting that certain concerns highlighted by the transport operators need to be addressed, Minister Vaz is insisting that Monday’s protest action was unwarranted.

“There was no winner yesterday. Jamaica lost, the taxi operators that withdrew their services lost, they didn’t earn a dollar for yesterday and what was the result? The meeting that was promised…would have happened whether they demonstrated, withdrew their services or not,” he said. “Let good sense prevail and let us continue communication, collaboration and consensus where possible.”