The Transport Authority (ADT) this evening stood by the emission tests being conducted on route buses and said it had no problem about showing the bus owners’ association the technical qualifications of the people conducting the tests.

The ADT was reacting to an earlier statement by the Public Transport Association, which represents the bus owners.

The association had called for talks with the Transport Ministry and the ADT with a view to resolving the current dispute over emission testing of buses.

The association said it had been complaining with the ADT for several months over the way the emission tests were conducted. This, therefore, was not a case of defending a particular bus driver. It said it was continuing to insist that the ADT show it the qualifications of the persons carrying out such tests.

If the government was really concerned about the health hazard of emissions it should proceed with the 1995 agreement for the replacement of the old buses, the association added.

In its reply, the ADT said it could not accept the claim that the buses were belching fumes because they were old.

All the route buses on the road had passed their VRT test. Facts showed that excessive emissions were the result of adjustments made to the buses after the VRT.

Indeed, buses which failed the emission tests in the morning passed the test by the evening.

The authority said it could not accept to have bus drivers controlled the tests. What the association was suggesting was like allowing exam candidates to set the exam paper!

The authority said, however, that it had no problem with the members of the association inspecting the technical certification if the testers when they called at its offices.

The ADT appealed for common sense and urged the authority to allow the law to be properly enforced and do its best to ensure that its members conformed.