STOPPED THREE TIMES IN 500 METRES BY THE SAME LAND TRANSPORT WARDENS

 (AM I BEING VICTIMISED?)

At 2.30pm we were parked outside the Ministry of Finance with hazard warnings flashing, I was sat in the vehicle and my colleague was just returning to the van after delivering water when a Land transport vehicle drew alongside (Neither were wearing seatbelts) and warned us that we should not be parked, the warden got out of the vehicle and started to write a ticket, I told her we were delivering water and causing no obstruction. She told me to Park in the Stadium car park in future, which I told her was not sensible as we had to deliver about 3 tons of water in town every day and to Park and walk with 3 tons of water would not be possible and that Land transport should have made concessions for delivery vehicles. She was not amused at my comment and handed me the ticket whilst phoning her colleague who had parked up the road by the Seychelles savings bank. We drove off and on  approaching Seychelles Savings Bank her colleague who she had just phoned stepped in the Road and stopped us asking us to pull over, I asked for what reason and he said because my passenger was not wearing a seatbelt and started writing another ticket. I said you are just victimising us and responding to your colleague who did not like my comments and whilst you drove past us neither of you were wearing seatbelts, so you may preach the law but you do not practice it. He then threatened to arrest me if I did not stop arguing with him and tried to take the keys from my vehicle to stop me moving. I told him he was not in a position to arrest me as he had not the powers and I did not see what offence warranted me to be arrested.

His partner soon joined him and issued us the ticket and I made a point that I would be making a formal complaint and then we went on our way yet again.  We turned left and proceeded towards Union Vale  and suddenly the same Land Transport Vehicle came speeding down the road behind us erratically overtaking traffic with hazards flashing and swerved in front of our vehicle trying to force us to stop which we did in front of the school in the middle of the road. It was the same 2 wardens and I asked what on earth was wrong now and why were they chasing me as if I had just robbed a bank. The same gentleman who wrote the ticket for the seatbelt informed me that a number was missing from the number plate on the front of my vehicle and therefore it could not be used until it was repaired and taken to the Testing station for verification and I must submit my driving licence to the police within 24hrs. He slapped a MUST NOT BE DRIVEN STICKER ACROSS MY WINDSCREEN.

This is the second time we have had problems whilst delivering water in Victoria by aggressive Land transport wardens who do not seem to give a damn about people trying to earn a living.

Austin WhiteDirector, 
Beoliere Aqua (Pty) Ltd
P.O. Box 218, Victoria
Mahe Island Seychelles
+248 378777

March 7, 2008
Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles