Transport Control Department.

Transport Minister the Hon. Ralph Marshall vowed yesterday to review the system.

His pledge follows Thursday's mayhem when hundreds of motorists besieged TCD.

Many had to wait up to five hours to have their cars relicensed.

And some even faced the prospect of entering 1993 without a license as the department closed its doors.

"You could feel the tension, although there was no violence,'' said Mr. Leon Edmead, who was relicensing his boss's car.

"It's pathetic that as we reach the year 2,000, Government still can't find a way of dealing with this problem. It happens every year.'' Mr. Edmead arrived at TCD at 11 a.m., prepared with a packed lunch. He did not leave until 4 p.m.

"I reckon there were about 400 people inside and outside the building. A lot of people did not prepare to celebrate the New Year in the way they would wish.'' Mr. Edmead, however, was full of praise for the way TCD staff coped with the rush.

Mr. Marshall yesterday blamed the problem on motorists always leaving it to the last moment to renew licenses.

"We've tried to find a formula to stop people all descending on TCD at once.

"We review the process at least once a year, and we are looking at it again.'' Mr. Marshall said a financial carrot to lure people to TCD earlier would probably be too expensive.

Another idea is for licenses to expire on the birthday of the holders, added Mr. Marshall.