Transport Officer Expansion Approved but Recruitment Stalled by Lack of Funds

The Ministry of Transportation says preparations are underway to expand the country’s transport enforcement capacity, following Cabinet approval to increase the number of transport officers, though recruitment has not yet begun due to the absence of identified funding.  In an update issued on January 19, the Ministry thanked Cabinet for supporting the initiative, which aims to improve road safety, strengthen regulatory compliance, and enhance overall public service delivery within the transport sector.  While policy approval has been granted, the Ministry clarified that funding for the expansion has not yet been secured, and as a result, no recruitment has commenced at this time.  The news of Cabinet’s approval came in last week’s Cabinet Brief on Wednesday followed by confirmation by the Chief Transport Officer, Leon Gentle.

In the meantime, the Ministry says it is actively preparing the framework needed to roll out the initiative once financing is in place. This includes developing eligibility requirements, training standards, and qualification criteria to ensure that future recruitment is transparent, merit-based, and aligned with national enforcement standards.  The Ministry has assured the public that once funding is identified and preparatory work is completed, full details on application procedures and timelines will be released. Officials say they remain committed to keeping the public informed as the expansion of transport enforcement moves forward