Traffic in TCI, specifically Providenciales, is becoming increasingly chaotic.
With the influx of vehicles into the country, there are more drivers on our roadways, leading to traffic congestion that was never before seen in our islands. With this has also come an increase in vehicular accidents.
RTC sat down with Deputy Director of Road Traffic, Wilbur Caley and Sgt. Damien Mitchell, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Head of Traffic, to get insights and updates on the state of traffic in the TCI.
Unauthorised illegal taxis, colloquially known as jitneys, have been pointed out by many locals for making our roadways hazardous.
According to Caley, the Road Safety department has sent in a number of recommendations to Cabinet that will put in place two new categories of public service providers: one, a community cab and the other, a minibus service.
These two new categories will allow Turks and Caicos citizens to enter the transportation business and to serve local communities, specifically.
The community cabs will replicate a taxi service while the minibuses will have set routes across the island.
Caley said that Minister of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication, the Hon. Vaden Delroy Williams, is on board with the recommendations and they are now awaiting the approval of the submission by Cabinet.
Sgt. Damien Mitchell is looking forward to the implementation of legitimate community transport as he has become frustrated with the illegal jitney business.
Caley said that with this new legislation, traffic officials hope to eliminate the need for illegal transport in the TCI. He said that there have already been serious expressions of interest from those hoping to enter the field of community transport but he said that there is a criteria for obtaining such a license.
These include having TCI citizenship and having a business license. Additionally, only a particular class of vehicle can qualify for this license. Applicants must have a clean police record and they must also pass the Tides Certificate Course with the Tourist Board.
Following the extensive works that have been done to improve roadways on Millenium Highway in Providenciales, Caley and Mitchell said that the round-a-about at Suzie Turn is another place of interest.
According to Sgt. Mitchell, there were plans to put stop lights at both Suzie Turn and Cherokee Road but following last year’s hurricanes, those funds were diverted to more immediate needs.
Nonetheless, said Caley, Suzie Turn remains a problematic area on our roadways. He said that the Road Traffic department is looking at long-lasting stop lights that run partially on solar energy to be placed at Suzie Turn.
South Dock Road is a notoriously dangerous road way in Providenciales and Caley said that there are serious ongoing efforts to mitigate the frequency of accidents and mishaps on that road.
He said there there will soon be a meeting between various stakeholders including the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force, Road Safety, the Department of Public Works, the Ports Authority as well as the owners of heavy equipment that use South Dock Road to transport loads.
Caley said that heavy equipment operators will no longer be able to overload their vehicles with materials to the point that the material drops along the roadway. Their vehciles will be inspected before they leave the port to ensure that they have not overloaded.
Caley also promises improved road signage along South Dock Road.
Sgt. Mitchell said that police enforcement is key to ensure that motorists obey traffic signage. He also urged motorists in the TCI to be responsible while using our roads.
According to Caley, last year, over 13,000 vehicles were licensed countrywide. That number is expected to climb by at least 1,000 by the end of 2018.
According to information from the Customs Department, on average, 150 to 180 vehicles are imported into the TCI per month.
Source: Allie Capron (RTC News)
