B.V.I. Friday, October 9 – The Ministry of Communications and Works in conjunction with the BVI Tourist Board will be hosting a number of training courses for taxi and livery operators within the Territory.
“This training is very important because it is a prerequisite for livery operators in obtaining their livery permits,” Acting Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mrs Myrna Ferdinand told the Department of Information and Public Relations.
The workshops will be hosted by the Tourist Board during the week of October 20, and will cover topics such as, ensuring health and safety in the road passenger transport industry, dealing with emergencies and incidents during a journey, providing transport service for passengers who require assistance, driving community transport safely and legal issues in the transport sector.
“As a premier destination we must ensure that we attain a high level of service to remain competitive, therefore we are investing in this training. The workshops scheduled for October will build upon those offered in June with the aim of developing drivers to meet international standards,” Ms. Jamila Vanterpool, Business Development Coordinator with the BVI Tourist Board stated.
The workshops will commence on Tortola on Tuesday October 20 at the Moorings Conference Room and continue on Wednesday 21, at the Anegada Community Centre.
On Thursday 22, the workshop will be held at the Ashford Waters Community Centre on Virgin Gorda and will move to Rudy’s Restaurant on Jost Van Dyke on Friday 23. The series of workshops will culminate on Tortola on Saturday October 24 at the Moorings Conference Room. All workshops are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
According to the road traffic regulations in order to obtain a livery permit, applicants must possess a valid BVI driver’s licence, a police certificate, a certificate of medical fitness including an eye exam and submit three recent and identical passport photographs along with a $200 application fee. Livery and taxi applicants should also have satisfactorily completed a training course conducted by the BVI Tourist Board and pass a written or oral test on the road traffic laws and general knowledge of the Territory.
“Livery operators are being reminded that they have until the end of February to be in full compliance with the law,” Mrs. Ferdinand said.
Government is seeking the cooperation and support of all parties involved to make the transition as smooth as possible. The license plate transfers are part of efforts to provide efficient and accurate services in vehicle licensing matters and to enhance drivers’ safety in compliance with the road traffic legislation of the Territory.
British Virgin Islands News