By NEIL HARTNELL

and YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporters

A Bahamian auto dealer yesterday suggested the COVID-related backlogs and shortages at the Road Traffic Department should reignite discussions on outsourcing the vehicle inspection process.

Rick Lowe, the Bahamas Motor Dealers Association's (BMDA) secretary, told Tribune Business "maybe it's the right time to outsource" the annual inspections to licensed auto dealers and mechanic shops even as the Association was yesterday forced to dispel claims this has already been set in motion.

Ben Albury, the BMDA's vice-president, said in a statement issued to this newspaper: "The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association (BMDA) is aware of a meme circulating on social media that states the Road Traffic Department has signed an arrangement for three of our member firms to carry out vehicle inspections for annual licensing.

"While the BMDA thinks it a good idea to privatise the inspection process, as it is done all over the world, we have not been invited to any further meetings on this subject since we were approached by the then-minister of transport, the controller of Road Traffic and others in 2008."

The social media posting, which Tribune Business has obtained, states: "Starting next year, the Road Traffic Department will not be doing inspections for vehicles any more. Companies like Sanpin Motors, Auto Mall, Nassau Motor Company and Quality Auto have signed an arrangement with the Government to do all the inspections." Quality Auto is part of Auto Mall, hence the BMDA statement's reference to three companies.

While the social media posting was dismissed by the BMDA as 'fake news', Mr Lowe said it nevertheless presented an opportunity to reignite decade-old discussions on outsourcing the vehicle inspection process given the Road Traffic Department's present difficulties.

"Maybe it's the right time to privatise," he said. "I'd hate for them to miss the opportunity. It [the fake social media posting] certainly opens the discussion, or should open the discussion, instead of formenting silliness.

"Privatisation doesn't mean just two or three people doing it, but we've been down this road before in 2008 when the Government wanted to change the inspection process to a service."

Multiple countries, such as the UK, have outsourced their vehicle inspection process to private auto dealers, garages and mechanics. They perform a complete check of a vehicle, collecting the inspection fee and remitting the Government's share to it while keeping a portion to cover their costs.

Mr Lowe said such a system, while beneficial for road safety since it would apply far greater scrutiny to a vehicle's worthiness than the present rudimentary Road Traffic inspection, would likely also involve a rise in inspection fees to cover the provider's costs as well as ensure the Government receives no less revenue than it does presently.

The political implications of imposing such a increase on Bahamians likely deterred the Government in 2008, and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on jobs and incomes may have a similar effect now.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs), such as that submitted by Franklyn Robinson and Charles Beneby, principals in Bahamas Automobile Safety and Inspection Centre Ltd (BASIC), for a $25m new Road Traffic Department and inspection centre have also been proposed to the Government over the years.

Multiple sources have told Tribune Business that the Road Traffic Department's (RTD) curb-side system is not working, with the half-day vehicle inspection process resulting in long lines building up at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. Drivers towards the back of the queue are frequently being told to come back another day as they will not be seen before the 1pm cut-off.

The Department is also understood to have been out of new and replacement vehicle licence plates for three to four weeks, although this was denied by its controller, Bradley Sands.

However, one Tribune reporter, who applied and paid to replace a single license plate on August 17, and was told to return to the Department at the end of October to pick up the plate, was told last week to return in January 2021 because it was “not ready ".

When confronted, Mr Sands replied: “I am not aware of that. Well, if that is your story then run with that.”

Calls to the minister for transport, Dion Foulkes, were unsuccessful up to press time as well as calls placed to the ministry. However, in his national address late yesterday, Mr Foulkes admitted that COVID-19 had "taken its toll on operations" at the Road Traffic Department.

"One of the positive outcomes has been the implementation of the drive-through system which has sought to reduce the need for ‘in-person’ interaction, eliminating the congestion of long lines and the resultant overflow of customers wishing to access the Department’s services," he said.

"With the continued lockdowns, this aspect of the department’s revised service delivery continues to work smoothly. Additionally, recognising the importance of servicing motorists in these challenging times, we will soon re-open a satellite agency in New Providence for licensing and inspection of vehicles. This Road Traffic facility will be located at West Bay Street, adjacent to Clifford Park."