From as early as 5 a.m. on January 2nd, crowds gathered outside the Port of Spain Licensing office.
Many told TTT news they were racing against the deadlines for transfers and vehicle inspection, but instead were met with another issue.
The situation worsened after many applicants received word that the computer systems were down and the office was severely short-staffed.
One customer, who came in for a vehicle transfer noted that she had been waiting outside the office for several hours, with little progress. As a result, she is calling on the government to improve these challenges within the licensing offices.
In response via a media release, the Licensing Division acknowledged a high volume of persons seeking to transfer vehicles primarily due to individuals who did not complete their vehicle transfers within the required legal time-frame.
The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation is reminding the public that vehicle ownership transfers must be completed promptly in accordance with the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, to avoid delays, congestion at Licensing Offices, and potential legal consequences.