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Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Transportation, Chester Williams, says it is important to operate on facts as opposed to the many misinformation on social media. His comments come following several comments made over the weekend over the new training program coming onstream for motorcycle drivers. Williams appeared on The Morning Show today where he explained how the three hundred dollar fee would work out.
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport: “The primary reason we came was because of the level of distorted information that was out there and misinformation. And we believe that it was prudent for us to come and explain to the Belizean people exactly what we’re doing to be able to enhance road safety in this country. To say that in order for one to be able to get a motorcycle driver’s license, which is a class D, they must undergo a two-weeks training and that training can cost anywhere from nothing to $300. And let me make that clear. The training can cost anywhere from nothing to $300. And again, Troy, we placed a cap of $300 because we know had we not placed a cap of $300 some trainers would have wanted to charge way beyond three and take advantage of the potential trainees. So the $300 is a cap.”
Troy Gabb, Host, The Morning Show: How did you arrive at the zero because everything has a cost.
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport: “Exactly. So if you are a trainer, certified instructor and you want to train maybe a friend or a relative or anybody and you feel like you don’t want to charge them that’s up to you. We’re not mandating you to charge $300 or to charge $1. It’s up to you, the trainer.”
Renee Trujillo, Host, The Morning Show: But $300 would be the ceiling.
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport: “Now, we spoke of two weeks training. Again, let me make it emphatically clear. Two weeks does not mean two weeks. It’s a matter of you, again, and your trainer. So we do understand that there are some people who might be working, I will not be able to go and sit somewhere for two weeks and do the training. So if you’re a trainer, I’m a trainee. I work. I come out at work at five in the evening. I might only have one hour today to do training. So today I go to training one hour. Tomorrow I do one hour. Next day I do one hour. Maybe another day I do two hours. It is my availability and your availability. So it is flexible again to the extent that you work with your trainer, and again the objective is to complete the manual. If you complete the manual and your trainer certified you having the competence, then you’ll get a certificate and you’ll go to DOT with that certificate and the other documentation to apply for a license.”
As it relates to the trainers and the curriculum, CEO Williams explained how this would operate.
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport: “We came up with the 300 having done an analysis where we look at the trainer would have to get motorcycles to do training. The trainer will have to maintain the motorcycles. The trainer will have to buy fuel. The trainer will have to make copies of the manuals, might have to rent a place to do training. So we look at those things that the trainer will have those expenses to cover. The curriculum for the training is going to be developed by the Department of Transport and then we are going to give it to the certified trainers. Some people are saying that this is being done as another way for government to come up, right? Government will collect $300, right? That’s a total lie. It is not for government. Yes, we listed ITVET as a possible trainer. But for the most part, the training is going to be done by the private sector and we would hope that the different motorcycle clubs would apply and partake in the training because they do have their membership and they know their membership and they should be able to have people within the club that have wealth of experience in the maneuvering of motorcycles on our highways.”
The training plan will tentatively roll out early next year./
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