Transport and education officials will meet next week to negotiate which department will take control of a safe riding programme for youngsters.

This emerged yesterday as Transport Minister Wayne Furbert presented certificates to those who have successfully completed the Project Ride training programme.

Although the instructors -- three from private schools and nine from the public education system -- finished the course on November 22 and October 4, respectively, the certificates were presented yesterday as a part of Road Safety Week.

Among the recipients not on hand was Devon Lane teacher Jeremy Ball who created the road safety programme some eight years ago.

The programme was turned over to the Education Department some 18 months ago because the Bermuda Union of Teachers could not afford to run it.

But earlier this year the BUT offered to take back control of the programme after The Royal Gazette revealed several problems plaguing it.

The newspaper discovered that half a dozen cycles purchased at the beginning of the school year for the programme had hardly been used and were rusting at the Police compound.

Transport Control Department director Donald Dane also expressed concern that students were still wasting school hours at TCD waiting to be tested when nine teachers had qualified as driving instructors in public schools.

And several parents, with students in some private schools which do not offer the programme, approached the Education Department in hopes of getting their children into the programme. But they were turned down.

Sen. Scott noted that when the union was in charge of the programme it was "offered to everyone'' interested.

And he said Government should be able to provide it to all students regardless of whether they attended private or public schools.

Pointing out that some 20 teachers had been trained when the programme was under the union, Sen. Scott added that the union would be able to successfully offer the programme to all teens, if given "proper funding''.

But yesterday Sen. Scott said the union had not yet been able to make representation to the Education Department on the matter.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer Joseph Christopher said a meeting between Mr. Dane, himself, and officers from both departments was scheduled for April 14 to discuss the future running of Project Ride.

SAFETY IN NUMBERS -- Qualified Project Ride instructors yesterday received certificates for successfully completing the training programme. Pictured, from left, are Transport Minister Wayne Furbert, Road Safety chairman George Morton Jr., and instructors Wolde Selassie of St. George's Secondary, Roy D.

Parker of Whitney Institute, Carla John of Warwick Academy, David Waltham of Northlands Secondary, and Christopher Swan of Berkeley Institute. Missing are Jeremy Ball of Devon Lane, David M. Goulbourne of Sandys Secondary, Ruth Henderson of Saltus Grammar, Paul Toomer of Bermuda High School, Georgina E.L.

Tucker of Warwick Secondary, Desiree A. Young of Warwick Secondary, and Joseph Ratteray of the Education Department.

TRANSPORTATION TRA