Chairman of the Transport Authority Board, Adrian Grant (left); and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Mark Cummins, look on as Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Ian Gooding-Edghill, spoke at yesterday's introduction of the board.
WITH public transport being one of the heavy local talking points as the nation does its best at every level to navigate the current COVID-19 environment, the Transport Authority's new board of directors are expected to have a baptism of fire as they get down to work in the midst of the pandemic. The board convened a meeting for the first time yesterday at the Barbados Water Authority's Pine headquarters where they were briefed on the status of local public transport and the way forward.
Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Ian Gooding-Edghill, oversaw the board's inaugural meeting and told members of the media that each member was selected for their rich and varied skills, expertise and experience. Highlighting the fact that public transport had been in the minds and mouths of members of the public for the wrong reasons for some time, the minister explained that he had a vision which he expected the board to execute.
"I am requiring the Board to pursue and bring to realisation my goal of moving public transport from the margins of public attention and operation where it has existed for way too long. Obviously the Board would have to reposition and evaluate public transport to a far higher level of appreciation as a major factor in our national social and economic life. Coupled with that, will be the establishment of public transport as a major contributor to national activity, cohesion, integration and stability," he said.
Going on to state that the aim was to place public transport on the same level of social importance such as health, education and economic factors as its optimal operation could only augur well for those other sectors, Gooding-Edghill noted that the way forward was already charted.
"Public transport is about to change gears and refashion its roots of passage under a new Transport Authority Board. The Board is being put in a state of readiness to play a decisive role in putting this sector on a route never yet travelled by such an institution in Barbados."
Explaining that the board would have a greater role than past boards as greater demands will be made of them based on plans to revolutionise public transport, Minister Gooding-Edghill said that one of the hallmarks of this board would be a high level of transparency and no micro-management of the Barbados Transport Board.
"There is a management team at the (Transport) Board. The (Transport Authority) Board will largely be responsible for policy decisions and the execution of policy and holding management accountable for the execution of the Board's policy," he said.
New Board of Directors of the Transport Authority
Chairperson: Adrian Grant
Deputy Chairperson: Janice Boyce
Other directors: CarolAnn Thornton; Rashida Beckles; Andrew Willoughby; Adrian Bayley; Keisha Small; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Mark Cummins; Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Michael Wason
Lynda Holder (Representative of the Barbados Transport Board)
Edwin O'Neale (Representative of CTUSAB)
Kenneth Best (Representative of the Association of Public Transport Operators)
Inspector Rodney Inniss (Representative of the Commissioner of Police)