by Linda Straker
- From 1 January, police not scheduled to administer traffic duties
- Traffic wardens empowered to exercise specific powers
- Grenada Transport Board responsible for traffic wardens’ salary
Both Houses of Parliament recently approved legislation that will bring about changes to the management of traffic on the streets as regular police officers will no longer be scheduled to engage in the administration of traffic duties.
The members of both Houses have amended the Road Traffic Act CAP. 289A primarily to establish the position of traffic wardens and to empower traffic wardens to exercise specific powers currently exercisable by members of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).
This shall come into force on 1 January 2019.
According to the amendment, the Grenada Transport Board, with the approval of the Minister and on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police, may appoint traffic wardens in accordance with this section for the purposes of controlling and regulating traffic.
The legislation mandates that a traffic warden shall not be less than 19 years old and not more than 45 years old; be of good character; be physically fit; have attained secondary school education; have an aptitude for hard work and have passed a written examination set by the Commissioner of Police.
The members of Parliament approved the uniform to be worn by a traffic warden in execution of his or her duty shall be blue baseball cap with white reflective stripe around it and the words “RGPF Traffic Warden” on the front; white shirt with epaulettes, whether with short sleeves or long sleeves; black trousers with cargo pockets; black shoes and blue reflective bib with white reflective vertical and horizontal stripes on the front and rear, and with patches bearing the words “Royal Grenada Police Force” on the right breast pocket; the words “Ministry of Transportation” on the left breast pocket; and the words “Traffic Warden” at the rear.
The salary for traffic wardens shall be the responsibility of the Grenada Transport Board. Before taking up duties besides the examination, all wardens are expected to undergo a programme of training.
