Dear Editor,
Three innocent mothers are dead – somebody’s aunt, mother-in-law, cousin or grandmother. In 2017, there were 100 accidents – 115 deaths. In 2018, 105 accidents and 119 deaths. We are not taking the road deaths and injuries seriously. For instance, a man met me on the street, he said, “madam, a man and he wife was arguing in a car and he ran into the post and he hit me foot”. I told a youngster who was driving fast that speed kills – he started laughing at me…how ridiculous!!!
As you reading this, wakes, funeral arrangements and funerals are occurring daily in Friendship. The cries of the children and families are ringing out in Friendship. Matter of fact, I’m meeting people from other communities who are still mourning their loved ones 20 years since an accident. We want action and we need it now!!!. Never again!!! Thank you Mr. President for such a speedy Inquiry which is now completed. Yes, the internal security forces need changes, but externally on all roads from coast to coast dire changes are needed immediately. Some of these are lowering the speed limit, electronic speed controllers, fixing the holes in the roads quickly which cause accidents and removing those who are selling on the roads – this is a dangerous hazard to the flow of traffic and accidents. Here’s another big one – I notice a police officer located a couple of corners from the Grove police station paying more attention to his phone (he was not talking on it) than to the vehicles (i.e. sand trucks) whizzing past him like birds. Please find the monetary resources and fix all roadways…no more excuses. For instance, cut the budget for Mashramani in half and use it for more Miles Per Hour signage on all roads in the country.
We sincerely thank the signatories (520) of the Never Again petition. The petition was delivered already to the Office of the President and the Ministers of Public Security and Infrastructure.
Citizens are encouraged to turn their silence, weeping, grieving/mourning behind closed doors into positive activism for the good of Guyana and in particular for Guyana’s children. Do you realize that this madness on the roads slowly seeps into the young drivers and is seen by your children daily – so what do you think they will do on the roads – monkey see…monkey do…
What simple things can you do when using the road –
1. Help someone (i.e. a senior citizen or a child) cross the road.
2. Refuse to take speeding mini-buses (say something if they are speeding).
3. Push for a change of road laws and its strict enforcement by the Government.
4. Push to lower the speed limit everywhere in the country (more signage and more law enforcement).
5. Push for speed bumps on major roadways (I saw this in Belize – everyone was driving slow in the Capital)
6. Push for more traffic police on the roads – checking and suspending the licence of illegitimate drivers (i.e. those driving drunk)
7. Push for electronic speed monitors on all roads and recording cameras (for the speeders) at strategic locations.
Yours faithfully,
Denise Murray
Friendship Resident
