Transport Commissioner says Department clean

TRANSPORT Commissioner Nathaniel Douglas last week “put his head on a block” for the Licensing Department, strongly denying that it is involved in any racket where bogus TT driving permits are being sold to Grenadians.

Douglas came to Newsday’s offices Friday to defend his department. Newsday on Wednesday reported that bogus TT permits were surfacing in Grenada, and the Royal Grenada Police Force had seized dozens of the permits. The report said the bogus permits were being purchased here in Trinidad for as little as $500. However Douglas deemed the Newsday report as “totally inaccurate.” “None of those permits came from the bowels of the Transport Division,” insisted Douglas. He added that maybe it was the act of an “unscrupulous person” here in Trinidad or even in Grenada. “The entire Division is clear based on my investigations — I can put my head on a block for that,” said Douglas.

He explained that there were several discrepancies when the bogus permits with the red backgrounds were compared to the real ones issued by the Department. He said the red background on the bogus permits were lighter, the photo was bigger and the laminated pouch was flimsy. The type used for the information is different and the TT Coat of Arms is larger. The bogus permit was also issued for one year, whereas the real permit expires three years after the first issuance. A sample of the bogus permit, which was in a name of a man allegedly from Laventille and which Douglas produced to Newsday, bore the signature of former Acting Transport Commissioner, Edmund Prescott, who went on pre-retirement leave a week ago.  

Douglas said he had heard about the scam about a year ago, but the investigations fizzled after nothing was found. He said the Grenadian police had contacted him on Thursday requesting samples of permits with the different coloured backgrounds. Transport Minister Franklyn Khan has requested a report from Douglas on the matter. Douglas said that report would be presented shortly. Inspector Michael Francois of the Traffic Department in the Grenada Police Service confirmed to Newsday on Thursday that dozens of licences resembling those of TT permits were seized. He said no arrests had been made and investigations were ongoing.