THE National Investment Bank of Jamaica (NIBJ) recently concluded negotiations with a joint venture of Jamaican and United States interests for the much touted privatisation of the island’s 14 motor vehicle examination depots, but details of the deal have not been made public.

Stephen Wedderburn, NIBJ’s director of divestment, told the Sunday Observer that his organisation was currently in dialogue with Cabinet following last month’s conclusion of the negotiations, which have been ongoing since 1996.

“We have effectively concluded negotiations… We are in the process of advising Cabinet on the results, which usually involves advising the minister (of transport and works, Robert Pickersgill) and then the minister takes it to Cabinet,” Wedderburn said Wednesday afternoon.

Minister Pickersgill could not be reached for comment as he was reportedly off the island.

The joint venture group was selected in 1996 from a group of 11 interested parties that had submitted proposals to the NIBJ, after it advertised the privatisation of the depots.

According to information from the NIBJ, they undertook to have the island’s examination depots privatised in accordance with a ministry paper that was tabled in 1991 by then prime minister, Michael Manley.

“The vehicle inspection services of the Island Traffic Authority was listed among the entities to be privatised under item number 22 in the appendix of ministry paper number 34, tabled in 1991 by Prime Minister Michael Manley,” Wedderburn said via a release that was sent in response to earlier inquiries from the Sunday Observer.

At the time the proposal was tabled, there was some speculation that the move was based on incidents of corruption within the system. The NIBJ has, however, said that their information was that the move to privatise was made in an effort to improve the efficiency levels at the island’s depots.

“The files of the NIBJ indicate that the objectives of the privatisation were to improve the service to the public by reducing the time and bureaucracy involved to improve the record keeping system and regularise and standardise the issuing of certificates of fitness,” the release said.

The depots are currently run by the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) that has had the responsibility since as early as the 1930s.

The ITA currently employs 110 people islandwide, but precisely what the privatisation of the depots will mean for them is unclear since no details of the recent negotiations have been divulged.

It is not clear either, how much money Government expects to earn and/or save should the privatisation go through.

“The results (of the negotiations) are being reviewed,” the release from the bank said. “NIBJ has to make a recommendation to Cabinet before making public statements… The terms of the negotiations cannot be disclosed until the matter is finalised.”

The functions of the island’s examination depots include:

* testing of prospective drivers;

* vehicular testing for road worthiness;

* testing of vehicles involved in accidents to determine whether vehicular malfunction caused the accidents;

* the valuations of government vehicles; and

* the examination of vehicles that exceed the legal weight for Jamaican roads, for special duties.