Dear Editor,
As a resident of Schoonord, Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, I have the unenviable task of leaving home between 6am and 6.15am to avoid the chaos that ensues between the Goed Fortuin road and the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Over the course of the three years I have resided on the West Coast, the situation at the bridge has gotten worse, with very little sustained traffic management principles being implemented by the management of the bridge, and its enforcement arm, the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department.
The lawlessness that takes place every morning is symptomatic of the manner in which callousness and a general disregard for basic decency have defined our country over the last 15 years. First, the management of the bridge must have a visible presence at the western end of the bridge by way of a supervisor who can provide guidance to the traffic ranks who are often times few in number. The few officers seem as if they are reduced to observer status. Management cannot merely say that it is a matter for the traffic ranks only, since the bridge company has many competent civil engineers in its employ, and as such, they should be able to utilise the data they have collected over the years to study the trends of traffic use on the bridge, from which they could derive a proper, enforceable traffic management plan. This cannot and should not be left up to the police, since they simply do not have the capacity to conceptualise one. Once these plans are developed, it is only logical for the bridge company to oversee their implementation.
With regard to the Traffic Department, its officers do attempt to enforce whatever plans are there, but all too often there are way too few ranks (3 at most) posted at the bridge, and as such, any ‘system’ they implement, is often undermined because of poor monitoring and enforcement.
As a motorist, it is extremely irritating and unfair to leave home early in the morning to obtain a favourable position in the queue, only to observe numerous drivers bypass the line and head straight to the front. I have raised this issue many times with the police officers on duty, but they mostly ignore my urgings for them to act. What is also disheartening is the fact that many senior public servants, religious leaders and other prominent public officials are often seen bypassing the queue. For any system to work as designed, there must very strict adherence to it, which can only be achieved by uncompromising enforcement. The police must not allow a single car to pass or break the line, other than in cases of emergency. In other countries, every citizen has to queue up and cross the bridge without priority being given to anyone.
What must also be noted is, due to the unnecessarily long travel time across the bridge, the country continues to lose productivity by way of lost man hours because of staff arriving perpetually late at their work stations.
For the record, the Inews article of 27th January 2016 regarding this matter, does not represent the reality at the Demerara Harbour Bridge: Chaos is still the manager in charge at the bridge between 6.20am and 8.15am.
Yours faithfully,
Jeumayne Dummett
