Interim measures in place for drivers with work permits – Minister Vanterpool

British Virgin Islands: Mark Vanterpool, Minister for Communications and Works, has announced that his ministry has implemented measures to facilitate the driver’s license renewal process for persons on a work permit, the BVInews.com reported.

According to Minister Vanterpool, persons in the process of renewing work permits will be issued a letter from the Labour Department. That letter should be taken to the Department of Motor Vehicles to complete the process and thereafter pending no other circumstances, the license will be issued.

The BVInews.com report said the Minister explained that his Ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour to implement this interim solution.

According to the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Ms. Lorna Christopher, challenges occurred when driver’s licenses expired before the work permits were processed. “Since there was no physical work permit the department had to comply with the Road Traffic Regulations and could not renew the licenses,” Ms. Christopher explained.

An amendment made to the Road Traffic regulations in March of 2011 stipulated that “work permit or contract workers driver’s license may be issued for not longer than the permit or contract.”

The BVInews.com report said that currently the Ministry is pursuing policy changes that would revisit this section of the law and make the necessary amendments to facilitate the process.

Government is committed through the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide efficient and accurate services in vehicle licensing matters and to promote drive safety in compliance with the road traffic legislation of the Territory, the BVInews.com report concluded.