The Opposition is concerned about the vetting process for the fledgling ride-sharing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador after a story broke on VOCM News about the first person to be given a licence from the provincial government being up on sex charges.

Forty-three year-old Yosief Tesfamicael, who’s originally from the African country of Eritrea, is facing five counts against minors, including sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, unlawfully making sexually explicit material available to a child and exposing his genitals.

On Friday, government called a news conference to celebrate the first-ever ride share licence, then abruptly cancelled the event. It has suspended the licence indefinitely.

The shadow minister for Digital Government and Service NL, Joedy Wall, calls the approval outrageous given the serious charges against the owner of Redsea Riding. He’s calling on Minister Sarah Stoodley to publicly explain the vetting process and whether vulnerable-sector checks were done.