Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander said the Transit Police Unit, which has responsibility to protect maxi-taxi operators and commuters on the Priority Bus Route, is operating with a skeletal staff.

He said the Transit Police Unit was left to deteriorate over the past nine years to the extent where it is short by 60 officers.

Alexander was responding to a question in Parliament yesterday from Arouca/Lopinot MP Marvin Gonzales who asked whether the minister could say what was being done to protect commuters from robberies, given recent robberies of maxi-taxis along the Priority Bus Route, including a violent robbery on Wednesday leading to many drivers expressing fear and concern.