Implementation not legislation

Jun 05, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Travelling on Guyana’s roads today has become something of a nightmare, hardly a day passes when one reads the morbid news of another vehicular homicide.
The headlines of a typical week might read thus “Four die in vehicular smash up”; “Four die as car smashes into parked tractor trailer”; “Persons die after drag racing” or “Woman dies after being hit by army truck.” The last incident cited here is a revelation of the horrific death of a mother by the reckless driving of army personnel.

Recently President Jagdeo signed the law which stipulates that all drivers involved in vehicular accidents be made to take a breathalyser test to determine whether they were under the influence.
This law, if it is enforced, should curb the carnage on our roads.
But why am I not enthusiastic about this legislation as countless others that have been enacted? You see, legislation is one thing, implementation is another.

Take for example the law governing loud lewd music, speeding and overloading. Ever since the enactment of these laws we have witnessed countless cases of this type of lawlessness right beneath the very eyes of law enforcement and nothing seems to be done about it. Very few individuals, if any at all, are brought before the courts to answer charges. As I write people are dying on our roads while those in authority are fiddling around with the law books.
I think we have long gone past the time of talking and writing about the situation on our roads, and its high time for swift decisive action to take place.
Neil Adams

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