PHILIPSBURG--Only eight of the 64 licensed school-bus drivers turned up for inspections on Tuesday, the Government Information Services (GIS) reported.

Government's Control Unit ends its school-bus inspection today, Wednesday, July 28. It has warned that owners who don't have their buses checked will not be allowed to transport schoolchildren.

Control Department CIB head Martha Thewet appealed to drivers to have their buses inspected for the sake of the children.

If owners/operators don't have their buses inspected, "they cannot drive children to school and therefore won't get paid," GIS said. "On the other hand, if there are insufficient school buses many children will not be able to go to school."

GIS warned that Control Unit officers would turn away owners who came without all their paperwork. A driver must have the right licence, valid insurance and the bus must be in "general good condition" to pass the inspection.

"If buses do not show up, it is considered not having passed the inspection," GIS said. "We will not and cannot compromise the safety of our children."

Owners/drivers can contact Thewet at 542-4511.