Answers needed GT&T

Oct 24, 2008 Peeping Tom

The Parrot would like to add to the many comments being made following the tragic death of the promising and enthusiastic Akila Jacobs. Given what was reported, the life of this young journalist was snuffed out as a result of what now seems to be carelessness.
Of course I wasn’t there, so any reference is second-hand. What is unbelievable is that, according to the police, the deceased driver, Terrence Tappin, was unlicensed. Is this for real? The Bajans would scream, “God blind (pronounced bly) me”.
This is like rubbing a ton of salt in an irreparable wound. Mr. Tappin was about sixty years old. I know his family is suffering so it is not my intention to, in any way, demean his character. What the public should know is why was he unlicensed as a driver. Was it for health reasons? If it were, then why was he allowed to drive? Was it a case where he forgot to renew his licence? If so, how long was it expired?
If this was the case, then it speaks very minutely of the efficiency of the transportation department of the Blue Power Company, GT&T.
The late Tappin was, as reported, a contract driver for GT&T. Apparently he was in their employ for some years. I believe if proper monitoring was done internally by the company’s transportation department, the expiry dates for all drivers’ licences for drivers attached would have been known.
The officer in charge would have had to ensure that the licences are renewed on time. If this was done, and if Tappin had indeed forgotten to renew his, then this routine procedure would have prevented this “salt-in-the-wound” news we recently heard.
Should I believe that the company is unaware when its drivers’ licences are to be renewed? Should I believe that if it were that Tappin’s licence was not renewed for health reasons that he kept it a secret from the company?
Again, if this was the case then the efficiency of the GT&T’s transportation department is brought into disrepute. While it’s easy for me to sit here and ask these questions, GT&T owes the public these answers; for their own sake and image.
Having read and listened to the many related stories, I must say that I am heartened by GT&T’s response to the accident. The company would not want to be seen as being uncaring in times like these.
Therefore, it is even more necessary for company officials to provide the answers being sought. Now, they don’t have to, but would they want us, especially those affected, to believe that one of the largest companies locally, and an international one at that, would have in their employ an unlicensed driver? I don’t think so.
The procedure for acquiring a driver’s licence has always been questioned. That said, the police need to intensify their campaign against unlicensed drivers.
While the answers being sought from GT&T would not change the fact that Akila Jacobs and Terrence Tappin are dead and others seriously wounded, it would ensure that in future, drivers, not only those attached to companies, all, and who have lives in their hands, would at least be licensed.
It would physiologically prepare the minds of those being driven that their lives, for that moment, are in an authorised hand. Whether they will be safe is another issue.
By the way, why did GT&T use a red bus for the assignment? Isn’t red their competitor’s colour? Interesting.
Squawk! Squawk!

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