(NEWS784) – Following a meeting in Taiwan with an entity called Systems & Technology Corp, this country’s finance minister Camillo Gonsalves said a two-prong program will be developed for security and safety.
Gonsalves said part of the program known as E-Bus program is focused entirely on minibuses.
“In the E-Bus program, which will commence next year, or early 2019, it will involve placing a number of bus stops across mainland St Vincent, along with a small device on co-operating buses will allow persons while at the bus stop to know what time their bus is arriving”.
Gonsalves said this will allow commuters to know if there is a bus is 15 or 20 min away, and that information will be found on a digital display at the bus stop, and on commuters smart device through an app.
“The positive side for the state is that we would be able to monitor the information, we know about stories of van drivers who drive in less than a safe manner, the devices will allow us to track speed and various other information about their routes”.
Gonsalves said there has already been an initial conversation with the minibus association notifying them as to what the government wants to do and to start with a pilot project early in 2019.
“This will involve about 20 or 30 buses, and once we have demonstrated the benefits, we will expand usage and ridership if those buses”.
Gonsalves said the Taiwanese company indicated not only will the bus stops be Wi-Fi hotspots, but they accommodate CCTV cameras.
“Gonsalves said that led to the E-Bus programmed being amended to include deploying close circuit cameras around SVG”.
Gonsalves said the with the Taiwanese program CCTV cameras would be placed around Kingstown, at all the bus stop that would be erected, and in other high traffic areas within the state.
All CCTV would be networked and viewable at the Central Police Station In capital city Kingstown.
Gonsalves said the Foreign Minister of Taiwan has indicated that they would expedite the CCTV camera phase of the program.
