Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
May 10, 2014 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
I am a self-employed businessman and reside at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara. I am the owner and driver of a minibus (number provided). During the month of March (approximately three weeks ago), I visited the Traffic Headquarters (Enquiries) at Eve Leary, where I made contact with a Sergeant of Police to confirm whether a 14-seater Minibus has to bear a Conductor. The Sergeant confirmed with a Senior Officer regarding same and subsequently confirmed the negative in that based on the Traffic Laws, once I bear a Conductor’s Licence, I don’t need a Conductor.
This urgent enquiry on my behalf came on the heels of being harassed repeatedly by an officer (name and rank provided) attached to the Providence Police Station. This officer would stop my bus and interrogate me for no apparent reason even when I am taking my family out, be it on a Sunday or any other day. He would stop me, walk and look into my vehicle by putting his head through the windows (God knows what he is looking for). He would then ask for all my documents and when I produced same, he would refuse to check them and make some obnoxious comment then tell me to proceed on my way.
As a result this got me on my last nerve, because there are buses that would pass him in my presence with overload and 15-seater Minibuses that don’t have conductors and he does not stop them in any way.
On Friday April 11, 2014 between the 16:00 – 16:20 hours I was proceeding south along the East Bank Public Road in my Minibus with passengers, en route to Grove, when again I was stopped by the abovementioned officer at Providence. He asked me why I did not have a conductor, and I told him because my vehicle is a registered 14-seater Minibus and I was instructed by a Senior Officer at Traffic Headquarters that I do not have to bear a Conductor.
As such he told me to produce my “Road Service Licence” which I did. It was attached to my Registration. He tore off the “Road Service Licence” from the Registration and gave me the Registration. He told me to follow him to his office, which I did, and then he pulverized my “Road Service Licence” in my presence and threw it in the rubbish bin.
He then took out a Traffic Law Book- 51:02 and read something to me. I then asked him for my “Road Service Licence” and his words were to me “go back to Brickdam and get another one”. I then became annoyed because it was a very disrespectful act towards me coming from a “Law Officer” who is supposed to be alerting citizens in the right way if they are not cognizant.
When I asked him for the second time for my “Road Service Licence” he denied me same and I then told him that he would have to charge me and he said “well that gon be when we reach up again”. I then proceeded to the Brickdam Police Station to see the Commander, but he was not present.
I subsequently went to the Traffic Headquarters at Eve Leary where I met with a Senior Officer and reported the matter. He advised me that there was an amendment to the Traffic Laws, about two weeks prior. He explained and I then understood that the laws regarding all 14-seater Minibuses have been incorporated with the 15-Seaters, in that they must now carry Conductors among other amendments. The officer at Providence never explained that to me, which was his duty, according to the Senior Officer, instead of throwing away my “Road Service Licence”, as that Licence should have been be forwarded to Brickdam Police Station for future reference.
The Senior Officer was not at all pleased with his conduct and said he would speak to his superior regarding same.
This officer at the Providence Station is very disrespectful to members of the public and not performing his duties in the way they should be done. Remember, no one would believe the members of the public when they report of unlawful incarceration etc., by these police officers, as their words always stand.
I would be grateful if this officer would stop harassing me, as there is no record of me at any station with carrying overload etc. It seems that he has something personal against me. I would be grateful if a serious investigation could be conducted into this matter.
Lennox Brumell
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