(Trinidad Express) Transport Commissioner Reuben Cato said yesterday that corruption at the Licensing Division will continue unless the archaic system is computerised and modernised.
His comments came even as Transport Minister Devant Maharaj confirmed that four Licensing officers attached to the Port of Spain office were detained for questioning by police officers probing corruption in the importation and registration of vehicles.
“I am advised that within the last 48 hours, police officers with the Licensing Office investigations picked up and questioned at least four Licensing officers on issues related to fraud at the department. I am further advised that at least one officer has secured the services of attorney-at-law Navindra Ramnanan,” said Maharaj yesterday.
“This is a direct result of the probe launched and referred by the Ministry of Transport into the allegations made against the department concerning fraud,” he added.
Cato told the Express yesterday that he was not aware that four Licensing officers were detained but noted that for the past month, the task force investigating corrupt activities has been doing its work and questioning all staff members at the Licensing Office.
He said the police are here today, and they will be for the next ten years if measures are not put into place.
“In 1978, there was a commission of enquiry, in 1991, the police came again, and its the same today…the solution is a fully computerised system in order to put proper checks and balances in place to reduce these sort of practices,” said Cato.
