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Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakour has defended the government’s decision to sharply increase fines for late driver’s permit renewals, insisting the move is aimed at restoring order on the nation’s roads rather than generating revenue.

Speaking at a media briefing at the United National Congress headquarters in Chaguanas on January 7, Zakour addressed concerns expressed by the public that the UNC was doing the opposite of what it had promised along the campaign trail.

At a UNC meeting in April 2024, then-Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said, “A UNC government will reduce traffic fines across the board and implement state-sponsored driver education programmes instead. What is publicly presented as a mission for public safety is really a scheme for government revenue collection."