Insurance Act amended to protect victims

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told reporters Thursday government has amended the Motor Vehicle Insurance Third Party Risk Act to protect victims of road accidents.

Speaking at the post- Cabinet news briefing Ramlogan said the change was prompted by a recent ruling by the Privy Council.

“On the 16th of August 2012, in a matter, the Privy Council reversed what has been the law for a long time in Trinidad and Tobago. It was a policy where the insurance would only cover instances where only the named driver in the insurance policy itself was driving. It did not cover anyone else who drove,” Ramlogan said.

The AG said amendment means that victims would be able to get judgement if persons named on the insurance and also those driving the vehicle are involved in an accident.

Ramlogan also announced that the Salaries Review Committee would revise the pensions given to retired judges.

“Time and skills of judges have become more as cases have quadrupled over the past years. They are only human and it is time that one looks after them post retirement. They are facing hardship as their pensions are very small. To amend the pensions paid to them, the government is going to increase and adjusted it upwards,” Ramlogan said.