Training days - Islandwide programme for PPV drivers, conductors

Chad Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Public Passenger vehicle (PPV) drivers and conductors are set to benefit from a training seminar undertaken by the Transport Authority in conjunction with the HEART Trust/NTA. This is in a bid to make them more knowledgeable about their operations, while at the same time providing quality service to commuters.

The long-awaited training programme
is scheduled to take place islandwide between May 6 and June 2. Manager
of communication and customer services at the Transport Authority,
Petra-Kene Williams, explained the conditions for interested persons to
take part in the programme.

"The operators need to
fill out a registration form and attend the training programme," she
said. She also explained the rationale for the staging of such an
event.

"The Transport Authority is always assessing
the service delivery in the sector and looking at ways to improve
overall service delivery to commuters. We believe that part of the
challenge that is affecting the sector is that the drivers and the
conductors do not have enough knowledge about the expectations that we
have of them and the commuters themselves," Williams
said.

She continued: "We looked at putting together a
highly interactive seminar that would educate the drivers and conductors
on existing regulations or sections of the legislation that deal with
their operations, the roles of the Transport Authority, and also
customer service."

In keeping with Section 120 (d) of
the Road Traffic Regulation (1988), conductors are being reminded that
the successful completion of the training programme is a requirement for
the granting of conductor licences and badges. In furtherance of
Section 4 (2) (c) of the Transport Authority Act (1987), PPV drivers
must complete the training programme in order to be granted
badges.

Enrolment in the programme is now a
requirement for persons wishing to obtain new PPV driver and conductor
badges, which is being offered free of cost during the training period.
Soon after the training has been concluded, a cost for subsequent
training will be implemented.

Persons who successfully
complete the programme will receive certification from the HEART
Trust/NTA and in the case of conductors, the requisite conductor
licence. Williams explained that the partnership with HEART is
important, as they possess the requisite expertise needed for a
programme of this nature.

"The HEART Trust/NTA is the
national training institute and we believe that their level of expertise
needs to be brought to bear on this type of training and also because
we want to have it as a national programme," Williams
said.

The training programme will be
ongoing.