The Barbados Licensing Authority has suspended the issuing of heavy-duty, public service vehicle and motor tractor permits and driver licenses to people under the age of 25.

It says this is to allow for legislative changes to be drafted to a section of the Road Traffic Act.

A statement says it was recently drawn to the attention of the Ministry of Transport that an amendment made to the law was never enforced by the Licensing Authority.

This amendment prohibits issuing and endorsing as valid these categories of licenses to individuals under the age of 25.

The statement says the BLA immediately sought to address the situation by suspending the issuance of permits for these categories of licenses to people under the age limit and by deferring the sitting of the corresponding test for permit holders.

It adds that license holders under the age of 25 who were already issued with any of these categories of licenses since the 2017 amendment will not be affected.

But the ministry says it is mindful of the impact which the suspension is having on affected people and, as a result, it is seeking to urgently resolve the matter.