Drivers who damage government property will have to pay compensation- PM Gonsalves

The Government is seeking compensation from drivers for damage to government property such as walls and bridges.

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves complained last Sunday, November 20 about drivers who damage government property and are not made to pay.

“And the police will go and take all the measurements, but you think they going to send a report to the Attorney General and to the Ministry of Transport and Works?” he questioned.

“They were given clear instructions so to do,” the Prime Minister added.

However, it seems as if these instructions fell on deaf ears; as such reports are not usually made.

“We spent millions of dollars on a beautiful replacement bridge at Mt Young.”

The Prime Minister complained that within one week, “a man with a minibus damaged the railing of the bridge,” and so far, there has been no compensation.

He said it seems as though some police officers forget that these things belong to the state.

Gonsalves said he keeps insisting that reports on such damage be sent by the police, to the Attorney General and to the Ministry of Transport and Works.

“I tell the Commissioner over and over, I tell the people in traffic.”

The Prime Minister said that it is only in one or two cases that the police have listened and done something.

He added that government is now following up on these cases, and seeking to be compensated for damage to property.

The railing at Casson Hill is another government property that suffers frequent damage from motorists.