NASSAU, BAHAMAS — For the second time in just over a week, the Road Traffic Department headquarters at the Thomas A Robinson National stadium closed early today due to inclement weather and power-related issues.
Driver’s licenses are also printed at the stadium and acts as a central collection point.
However, residents were turned away around 1pm at the entrance gate was closed and locked.
Inspections of vehicles stop at 2pm, while the offices close at 4pm.
A security personnel confirmed the building had no power, but said the rain forced the offices to close.
“You got to come back tomorrow,” he said, pointing to a puddle of water surrounding the entrance gate.
“Because of the rain today, they shut down early.”
The stadium has a generator, but Eyewitness News understands it is not sufficient to power all of the offices now located there.
Outside the gate, a dozen motorists scattered under shelter, who were seeking various services returned to their cars and drove away.
A frustrated resident of New Providence, who did not wish to be named, said he paid for the renewal of his driver’s license for him and his uncle several weeks ago at the Department of Inland Revenue, but could not collect his license today.
“They’re closing early because of the rain and electricity cutting on and off, but everybody who deals with the licensing renewals is here, and they’re in their offices,” he said.
“But they’re still telling people that they’re closed early and they ain’ dealing with no more clients. Now when I came here, one or two clients were able to get in the back. I’m not sure if they were here before, but they were able to get in the back there and get served.
“I already paid for my driver’s license and my uncle paid for his driver’s license by Inland Revenue from weeks ago, so it should already be printed off, but they’re telling me sometimes they say it is printed off, but it is not really printed off.
“I don’t know what to say.”
When contacted, Acting Controller of Road Traffic Bradley Sands deferred comment at this time.
Calls placed to Minister of Social Services Frankie Campbell, whose portfolio includes transport, were not returned.
Yesterday, another concerned motorist, who identified herself as Ms Sweeting, said she had paid for a driver’s license over two weeks ago, but despite several visits to the stadium and road traffic on Carmichael Road she was unable to collect the card.
She said she did not know what the challenge was, and had been stopped several times during roadblocks and asked for her license, only to be able to produce a receipt that she had paid for it.
“It’s just ridiculous, and I don’t understand what the problem is,” she said.
“I’m going to try one more time, but it’s not right that these places just don’t consider your time, and what it takes to take time out of the day to come.
“This is very frustrating. I don’t feel like we should close because of the rain.”
On September 11, the department closed as a result of an island-wide power outage around 2pm.
Even after power was restored, services were discontinued until Monday, according to staff.
At the time, A Symonette, a construction worker, expressed frustration with the closure as he sought to renew his driver’s license, along with several other people who were turned away.
