Prime Minister Gaston Browne Wednesday said there would be “no ban” on the importation of the Toyota Vitz vehicle after Health Minister Molwyn Joseph said he was urging the government to do so after describing the vehicle as a “public health issue”.
“There is no ban on Vitz vehicles. The Health Minister expressed concerns about the safety of those vehicles and we recommend caution when driving with speed. Please note however, there will be no such ban on these vehicles,’ Browne said in the brief message posted on his official Facebook page.
Joseph has linked the vehicle to a number of serious accidents involving young people, adding “it is a public health problem costing the government a lot of money to respond.
”We cannot when we have these young people with spinal injuries say “oh it is their problem, they must drive more carefully,” he said, although he provided no definitive figures to back his claim..
Joseph told legislators that the vehicle “has an engine that is more powerful than the body of the vehicle. So that what happens is, when these young people drive these vehicles, it’s like they are sliding on air, so they don’t feel the traction of the road for them to feel how fast the vehicle is going”.
He said to underscore the seriousness of the situation, people would have to work more closely with the emergency room personnel at Mount St. John’s Medical Centre to understand the urgency needed to deal with the matter.
Joseph said that he had first brought up the issue of banning the importation of the vehicle with Attorney general, Steadroy Benjamin after three consecutive accidents involving the Toyota Vitz.
“I called the AG and said listen, let’s just ban this thing from coming into the country, Just ban it,’ Joseph said, adding that while the government was not against people being in possession of their own vehicles, these cars must however be safe.
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The country speed limit is 40 miles per hour unless it was change and I don’t know. What speed can these young people can do then?
I am happy that the ban has been lifted. Young people please be careful when driving and keep within the speed limit of road you’re on. God guidance and protection for all road users.
What ban was lifted?
IMTELLIGENT QUESTION
Not sure why my friend should insist on using this name.
He has clearly shown that he is no more ‘…Duncy’ and shall not be called a ‘Bat.’
This was made obvious when he intelligently asked, ‘…What ban was lifted?’
You are far from being ‘Duncy,’ and certainly not the ‘…Fool of a Bat’ as the name suggests.
Convinced the health minister smoking the green stuff hard. Your proposal makes no sense.
Go and find some real matters to argue over!
Such as the old cars that are being imported, or the poor roads all over the island… Or the state of the city!
Come on!
More like Hadeed and Harney put heput. Them cant sell people them over priced used cars now. Mowlyn min haffu had in he juice.
Why didn’t the minister and the PM have a discussion about the issue and come to a consensus before going public? This is a dress down for the minister. Only the PM is allowed to bark.
TOYOTA VITZ is the National Car of Antigua/Barbuda. Drivers; Drive Carefully and also within the Speed Limit……
The world (and Antigua) were a lot better off before cars were invented.
ABLP quite clever governance. After last cabinet meeting a plan was hatched.
Senior minister test the waters with a plea to ban the Vitz.
Almost immediately as if the PM had nothing better to do step in as the world boss and save the day.
This is clever politics. You guys can’t take a joke. Jeeze
This was a non issue.There was not a ban on the Toyota Vitz.Before you Molwyn Joseph suggested banning that car.Why not go first and have discussions with the dealer of Toyota in the Nation.Get some feed back from him and ideas to move forward.OH no,you jumped up in stitches and proclaimed a ban on the car.
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