$25 Million Motorcycle Training Facility For Westmoreland

            The Government is constructing a motorcycle training facility on the grounds of the Petersfield Vocational Training Center in Westmoreland, at a cost of $25 million.

            Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, on Thursday (February 20) toured the construction site of the facility, which is projected to be completed within a few months.

            The training facility will offer certified programmes in the mechanics of motorcycle management, in a bid for riders to improve their riding skills, as well as become knowledgeable of the road code.

            At the end of the programme, participants will be presented with a learner’s licence.

“More than a third of the fatal accidents are coming from the motorbike riders and Westmoreland has the highest incidents. [Also], the whole bike taxi service has expanded in [the Parish] exponentially,” Dr. Chang said.

“Now it is big business and there are hundreds of bikes involved. So our Permanent Secretary worked out with HEART a programme to set up a bike facility to train them to ride properly, to fix bike and to provide them with helmets,” he added.

The National Security Minister informed that already, persons from Westmoreland are anticipating the opening of the facility.

“Most of the guys are riding without helmets, without shoes. So when they crash the chances of them surviving are very low and when they survive, they are physically challenged for the rest of their lives. [So] the bikers all want to get in, anything that can improve their skill sets,” Dr. Chang stated.