Addressing a press conference at his Broad Street office Friday, Transport Minister, S. Tornorlah Varpilah said the inspection exercise is in keeping with the Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance scheme launched early this year.

Minister Varpilah said the inspection is a regular exercise carried out twice every year by the Ministry of Transport, aimed at improving road and public safety.

He said the ministry and other stakeholders, including the ministries of justice and finance, have put in place measures to ensure that road safety laws and regulations, such as motor vehicle insurance registration, are respected.

Minister Varpilah said the insurance scheme will help reduce the number of accidents in and around Monrovia and will also help accident victims who cannot afford to seek treatment on their own, to do so through their insurance partners.

He disclosed that about 50,000 insurance stickers have already been deposited at GT Bank and can be purchased through the Ministry of Finance,while the Ministry of Transport will be responsible to help the police scrutinize all motor vehicle documents during the inspection.

For his part, Police Inspector General, Col. Chris Massaquoi, said the LNP, as the implementing arm of the Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance scheme, will ensure that the measure is implemented to the fullest.

The Police Inspector General said the issue of road accident and safety is very serious as victims of road accidents over the years have not been justly compensated, indicating that the insurance scheme will bring relief to would-be accident victims.

He said motor vehicles refusing to be insured will be impounded and a fee will be charged in order to enforce the motor vehicle insurance registration policy.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Varpilah and the Police Chief are calling on business owners and the general public to stop the importation of Tricycles as plans are afoot to stop them from plying the major streets.

Minister Varpilah disclosed that they are in discussion with relevant partners to import into the country 29 buses this year to ease the high cost of transportation in the country, and called on Liberians to exercise patience.

LINA PSN/TSS/PTK