Maxi taxi driver on 10 traffic charges

Marabella was the scene of chaos on Thursday afternoon as police gave chase to a maxi taxi driver while conducting a traffic exercise. The high speed chase which started near the  Tropical Plaza eventually ended at Harmony Hall, near Samlalsingh’s Hardware, where one of the pursuing police vehicles forced the maxi taxi off the road. The driver, Rajesh Nagine, 23, is due  to appear in court next week to face  ten charges. The 17-year-old conductor of the maxi David Persad Boodlal was released from police custody. The charges include driving without a driver’s permit and driving without a certificate of insurance, as well as driving without operator’s permit, among others. According to reports at around 3:30pm Thursday PC’s Ramjit, Ramoutar, Cpl Hoyte and Ag Cpl Hoyte were conducting a traffic exercise at Pointe-a-Pierre Southern Main Road.

During routine searches the driver whose maxi taxi was overloaded, dropped of all the passengers and took off  in a southerly direction. He ignored calls to bring the vehicle to a halt. Along Battoo Avenue pedestrians were forced to run for cover as the driver mounted the pavements during his speedy escape. The driver exited at the other end of Battoo Avenue  and proceeded further up the Southern Main Road with the police on his heels. He was eventually forced to halt when one of the two pursuing police vehicles drove in front of the maxi taxi. The man was arrested and taken into police custody. Nagine was also said to be driving the maxi without the consent  of owner Anil Seeraj. He is due to appear in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Traffic  Court on Monday.