Manning breaking the law
Unlicensed Mercedes Benz, no insurance:
Darryl Heeralal (Investigative Desk)

Sunday, November 23rd 2008

The Prime Minister is breaking the law even as Ag. Police Commissioner James Philbert has declared zero-tolerance on all law-breakers.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning is driving around the country in an unlicensed Mercedes Benz that has no insurance as required by the law of the land.

Instead, a silver Coat of Arms has replaced the registration plates of PBM 1 on a black 500 SL Benz that is part of the PM's official fleet of vehicles.

The law is clear that the Prime Ministerial plates bearing the official Coat of Arms are illegal.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chap 48:50, Section II, Registration of Vehicles 16, A, B, and C clearly states that only the President has the authority to use the Coat of Arms on his vehicles.

Part 12 5, 6, and 7 of the Act under Section II also states that if a vehicle is being used without the identification mark legally required that this is enough evidence to make out a prima facie case and that the vehicle may be impounded until enquiries are made.

PBM 1 was first replaced by the Coat of Arms for the Independence Day parade in 2002 and became a permanent fixture on the Prime Minister's Benz in late July 2005 during a visit by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Manning usually uses the Benz for official State business and his black Toyota Crown PM 1 for other affairs related to his Office.

"I cannot say as I speak whether he (Manning) needs special permission, I will have to research that," Transport Commissioner Ruben Cato said last week when questioned about the issue of the Coat of Arms on the PM's car.

When asked for a direct comment on the issue, Cato said: "I have not seen it and I cannot comment on something I have not seen."

Cato agreed though that it would be illegal under the Act to drive a vehicle with unlicensed or fraudulent plates.

"Once a person is caught he will be prosecuted which we have been doing.

"An offence has to be detected or seen in order to go to court to prosecute."

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Crime and Operations Gilbert Reyes also confirmed that under the Act only the President has the authority to use the Coat of Arms. Reyes said it was an offence to drive a car with unregistered plates.

But he too, like Cato, said he has not seen the PM's car with the silver Coat of Arms, adding "if this is indeed so we will want to know how that happened."

A board member of the Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies (ATTIC) said that any "owner or driver or operator should know that it is illegal to operate a vehicle if it is unlicensed."

The board member said that insurance does not cover a vehicle that is unlicensed but declined to comment directly on the Coat of Arms issue.

The minimum legal requirement for a vehicle to be on the road, the board member said, was third party insurance and it must be licensed.

Last Friday afternoon, Information Minister Neil Parsanlal passed the buck on Government's position on the issue, directing this newspaper to the Office of the Prime Minister. He said any comment on the matter should come from the Prime Minister's Office.

Contacted around 4.40 p.m. last Friday, communications manager for the PM's office, Paige de Leon said: "At this time we are unable to give the Prime Minister's position on this matter. When the office re-opens on Monday we will do the relevant investigations and get back to you on the matter."

Attorney Om Lalla said that the onus is now on the Prime Minister's Office and the Transport Commissioner to explain what, if any, authorisation or amendment to the law was granted to allow the Coat of Arms to be used by Manning.

"If there is no proper explanation forthcoming and no authorisation given, (then) on the face of it, it appears as though there is a breach of the law."

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It's intresting how both Transport Commissioner Ruben Cato and Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Crime and Operations Gilbert Reyes have suddenly become blind. Can you imagine that? Every time these poor men come into line of sight of the Benz they are robbed of their vision.

As members of the Public service who go above and beyond the call of duty I propose that an appeal be made to the Government to have these two poor gentlemen flown to what ever country has the highest success rate in treating such partial blindness so that they can once again rejoin society and take the necessary legal action against a man who thinks just because he is Prime Minister he can do what he feels.

And I don't care who gets vex with this statement but the fact is if it were PANDAY I am very certain that while going from point A to point B his detail would have been pulled over and the vehicle seized !!!