Sinanan: No extension for car inspection

Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan is warning drivers that the five-month moratorium on car inspections will not be extended beyond December 31.

He was speaking to reporters at the reopening ceremony of the Quinam Beach Facility, Penal yesterday. Asked about a possible extension, Sinanan said, “Definitely not,” and pointed out there were now 60 private garages which could inspect both P (private) and T (transport ) vehicles below 3,200 kilograms.

Sinanan recalled that the moratorium was instituted after he was told there were only two inspection stations which could inspect T vehicles, at the licensing offices at Port of Spain and San Fernando, consisted of two inspection pits where over 200,000 vehicles had to be inspected,

He said this situation had existed for several years and may have been used by certain people to their own advantage.

“Some people found it easier to go to licensing office – and I make no apologies for saying this – and have their vehicles inspected without the vehicles going to licensing office. The stickers were coming home to people and I question whether that was deliberate.”

So, he said, "I went to Cabinet and I got approval to allow the private garages to inspect the the T vehicles below 3200 kgs. That has been successful, We have close to 60 garages where you can inspect T vehicles.

"There was some pushback in allowing the garages to do it but in the interest of fairness, we took that decision and it is working perfectly.”

He warned, “So we gave you a five-month moratorium, we gave you 60 more garages. There is no excuse now to not have your vehicle inspected.”