By Precious D. Freeman
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) in collaboration with her partners, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) yesterday presented a program marking the official launching ceremony of the new sets of vehicle license plates for all categories, which was held at the Ministry of Transport.Speaking at the program, the Deputy Commander Chief of Public Safety, John M. Saar said that they are currently concerned about taxi licensed plates, while some vehicles registered as private cars are serving as commercial vehicles which is not supposed to be so because the private cars are depriving the government of the required taxes to be paid as commercial cars.
According to him, it’s a matter of must that all taxis be yellow-colored and have commercial license plates, but some vehicles are registered as private cars because the registration fees for commercial vehicles is more than that of the private vehicles which he still considers as cheating.
commander Saar also made mentioned of why some people are not willing to register their cars after one year because in other countries, everyone knows the importance of registration of cars and they do it without stress, but as for Liberians, they have to be forced to do what will benefit them which is not to be so.
“Some officials, Ministers and others give out their License plates to their love ones which is not supposed to be so as two cars are not expected to use one plate, because there should be certain plates for certain vehicles, “he said.
The Chief of Public Safety also recommended that the registration fees for private vehicles should be more expensive than commercial vehicles to avoid more private cars running as commercial cars in the streets and that all vehicles should be registered and be insured before plying the streets.
According to the Acting Minister for Transport, Sirleaf R. Tyler, it is traditional and customary at the Ministry of Transport, that they change the designs of all vehicle license plates every five years and the team which includes MDMC, Techno Brain, LRA, and the immaculate employees of the MOT began this process about six months ago.
The acting Transport Minister stated further that the objective of improving on the current license plates is to match international standards and make it almost impossible to duplicate, to obliterate the risk of fraud, to add technology for service delivery and operational efficiencies, to ensure national security compliance in terms of identification of all land transports and to ensure that there is increment in GOL Revenue by astronomical proportions.
“We are expectedly confident that these new instruments meet all the standards set forth locally and internationally. Additionally in the next coming months we will be adding new means of payment-Mobile Money, online Payments, and Visa/MasterCard payments, initially, UBA and IB will partner with MOT and later on other banks will follow, “he explained.
He stated further that they will be adding New Windshield Stickers, which is a new requirement for all moving vehicles throughout the geographical space of Liberia and the stickers will bear MAKE, MODEL and VIN Numbers of all vehicles, making it easier for routine motor vehicle inspection by the MOT and the LNP.
Meanwhile based on the remarks that was made by Deputy Commander John M. Saar concerning two cars using one license plate, the acting Minister said things have been put in place where it becomes difficult to remove the plates and moreover all the plates will be included with the names of the vehicles.