Khan slams UNC for defective buses

WORKS and Transport Minister Franklyn Khan has blamed several “defective” buses purchased by the former United National Congress (UNC) administration, for numerous delays to commuters using the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) vehicles. Khan made the accusation during a tour of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation yesterday. Khan, accompanied by Local Government Minister Rennie Dumas, on the official visit to the UNC controlled Corporation, said the buses were another example of “poor procurement practices” by the former UNC regime which he claimed also purchased the buses without proper tendering procedures.

He said the bus engines were also “back-pressuring” and needed a complete overhaul. He revealed that eight of the Marco Polo built buses had been sent to a Central contractor for complete refurbishment. But, in a bid to ease the transportation woes, Khan said Government was considering purchasing 12 “articulated” (the large accordion-type buses), for the public’s use.