Acting Prime Minister Jack Warner is enraged at the state of the Arima Licensing Office. Warner expressed his anger yesterday, during a visit to the office. He also visited President's House, the Vehicle Maintenance Co of T&T and National Maintenance Training and Security Co Ltd (MTS). Warner toured the offices and listened to the concerns of both employees and customers. When asked what he thought of the Arima Licensing Office after his tour, he said: "I am so angry. "I can't understand why the office has no forms, people have to wait seven months for a driver's permit, there is not enough staff, poor toilet facilities and the people here are stressed to the limit," Warner said.
"I can't understand. There is no excuse for where we are...we didn't have to reach to this." He said he thought it was unacceptable that people had to wait three to four hours to be served, adding, "We have to serve the people." Warner said he also thought it was ridiculous that there was only one cashier who closed at lunch time. He said this was unacceptable as it was widely known that people took their lunch breaks to run errands such as renewing their driver's licence. Warner said the condition of the building itself was horrendous, pointing out the dirty toilet facilities and the archive room which had no air-conditioning and little ventilation. "Something is wrong...I cannot accept this," he said.
The acting PM said the majority of complaints received by customers related to the lack of customer service and the long period of time it took get a licence. He said he was concerned for the customers and employees who sit and work in poorly-ventilated offices and waiting rooms. Before Warner left, he addressed the employees and customers saying: "I want to apologise to you all for the state of this office." Warner promised to improve and reform the Licensing Division to ensure effective customer service. Earlier in the day, Warner pledged $2 million for the restoration of President's House, during a consultation with the newly-formed Restoration Committee.