Bahamas Information Services Updates
Bahamas Ministry of Transport undertakes comprehensive review of Road Traffic Act
By Lindsay Thompson, BIS
Apr 9, 2014 - 2:20:58 AM

(BIS Photos/Raymond Bethel)

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Ministry of Transport and Aviationhas acquired the expertise of an independent transportation, planning and management consultant, Canadian Neville Weeks, to spearhead the revision of the Road Traffic Act, with a view to modernising the country’s transportation system.

During a forum held Thursday, April 3, 2014, stakeholders assembled at the Paul Farqhuarson Centre where plans were outlined, and feedback and suggestions submitted as to the way forward.

Under Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation Peter Deveaux-Isaacs underscored the importance of the project, which is the New Providence Transport Programme being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank.

The Government of The Bahamas continues to receive support from the IDB for the NPTP; this programme aims to improve the public road system and ease the flow of goods and services by solving existing traffic problems that create high costs for road users.“More efficient traffic flows will reduce the harm caused to the environment by congestion, increase productivity and improve the attractiveness of our island,” Mr. Deveaux-Isaacs said.

The Institutional Development and Strengthening Component of the NPTP made provision for sub-components to be undertaken one of which is a Review of the Road Traffic Act that has had very little chances since 1958.

Neville Weeks is a registered professional civil engineer and transportation and project management specialist with over 35 years experience on transport projects for both private and public sector organisations in more than 25 different countries. He has worked in the Caribbean, Canada, Africa, Asia, the UK, Europe and the Middle East for government clients and for international funding agencies including the IDB, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Commission, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the British and Canadian International Development Agencies. He is also registered as a Specialist Transportation Consultant with the Caribbean Development Bank.

Mr. Weeks has been engaged by the Ministry of Works and Urban Development and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation/Road Traffic Division with a comprehensive Review of the Road Traffic Act, for The Bahamas, under the Inter-American Development Bank loan for the New Providence Transportation Programme.His consultancy involves all the necessary reviews; research and studies to formulate an implementation plan for the re-drafting of the current Road Traffic Act, which must meet present and future requirements of the transportation environment of The Bahamas. “We at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation are excited about this modernisation exercise, and that great emphasis is to be p laced on the transfer of knowledge, experience and technology,” Mr. Deveaux-Isaacs said.

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