Gov't illegally collected PPV licensing fees for 26 years, Senate grants protection from lawsuits

Livern Barrett, Senior Parliamentary Reporter

"Disgusting".

Opposition Senator K.D Knight was not happy this morning when he rose to contribute to the debate on a bill to protect the government from legal action because it had been illegally collecting licensing fees from operators of public passenger vehicles (PPVs) for almost 30 years.

"It's terrible," Knight said before lawmakers on both sides unanimously approved the Transport Authority (Validation and Indemnity) Act.

The passing of the law means that PPV operators who have been affected cannot take legal action against the government. 

The bill was recently passed in the House of Representatives. 

“During the period commencing on the 1st day of December 1989 and continuing until the 8th day of December 2015, the Transport Authority, in good faith, but without legal authority, collected fees from the operators of public passenger vehicles in order to defray the cost associated with their regulation and monitoring of public transportation,” read a section of the bill. 

Knight, acknowledged that he was a member of the Cabinet while the fees were being collected illegally but insisted it was not good governance.

“I wouldn't have known this,” the former national security minister said. 

He said the persons responsible ought to have ensured that the Transport Authority had the necessary authority to collect the fees. 

“The minister who is going to be acting under the provisions of any statue must satisfy him or herself that he or she has the legislative authority to do it,” Knight added.

We want to hear from you! Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169, email us at editors@gleanerjm.com or onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.