Passengers lose insurance cover when they use unlicensed “pirate” public transport, officials warned on Monday, as they urged both commuters and operators to comply with licensing and insurance requirements.

Chief Executive Officer of CG United Insurance and former president of the General Insurance Association of Barbados, Randy Graham, said the continued use of private vehicles to transport fare-paying passengers remains a serious concern to insurers.

“It is still an issue, unfortunately,” Graham told Barbados TODAY. “If you get issued a private licence under the Road Traffic Act, you are not allowed or permitted to charge passengers a fare.”