AN independent transportation consultant has been chosen to spearhead the revision of the Road Traffic Act.

Canadian Neville Weeks will lead the revision with a view to modernising the country’s transportation system.

During a forum last Thursday, stakeholders assembled at the Paul Farqhuarson Centre where plans were outlined, and suggestions given as to the way forward.

Peter Deveaux-Isaacs, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, stressed the importance of the New Providence Transport Programme (NPTP), which is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank.

The Bahamas Government continues to receive support from the IDB for the NPTP, which aims to improve the public road system and ease the flow of goods and services by solving traffic problems.

“More efficient traffic flows will reduce the harm caused to the environment by congestion, increase productivity and improve the attractiveness of our island,” Mr Deveaux-Isaacs said.

The NPTP made provision for a review of the Road Traffic Act - which has had very few changes since 1958.

Mr Weeks is a registered professional civil engineer and transportation and project management specialist with more than 35 years’ experience on transport projects for both private and public sector organisations in more than 25 different countries. He has worked in the Caribbean, Canada, Africa, Asia, the UK, Europe and the Middle East for government clients and for international funding agencies, including the IDB, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Commission, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the British and Canadian International Development Agencies.

He is also registered as a specialist transportation consultant with the Caribbean Development Bank.
He has been engaged by the Ministry of Works and Urban Development and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation/Road Traffic Division with a comprehensive review of the Road Traffic Act for The Bahamas, under the Inter-American Development Bank loan for the New Providence Transportation Programme.

“We at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation are excited about this modernisation exercise, and that great emphasis is to be placed on the transfer of knowledge, experience and technology,” Mr Deveaux-Isaacs said.

Mr Weeks will be assisted by the staff of the Transport Policy and Planning Unit of the Road Traffic Department.