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Authorities face daunting task to recover monies

Jan 05, 2011 News

Amidst concerns over the state of traffic lights across the city, and on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, authorities have signaled their intention to re-examine strategies to maintain the traffic controls.
During his year-end review of the transportation sector, Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, revealed that of the 48 traffic lights that were installed under a US$2M programme between India and Guyana, only one was out of commission.
But vandalism and accidents were the worst headaches for the Ministry as millions of dollars in damage was chalked up last year.
One woman whose car caused over $3M in damage was taken to court and fined $50,000 after her lawyer pleaded for leniency.
But with the new legislation, another man who took out the traffic lights at Plaisance a few days ago was forced to fork out some $240,000.
Since being installed a few years ago, the solar powered traffic lights have been proving a major challenge to maintain. First, it was the back-up batteries that were stolen from the cabinets to ensure that the solar system was functional.
After a spate of such incidents, the Ministry’s Work Services Group (WSG) which has been tasked with the maintenance, moved to construct theft-proof housings. To add more on the mounting costs, the Ministry then had to invest in the longer-lasting deep-cycle batteries. These batteries can run continuously for 18 hours and more as the back-up power.
Yesterday, Terence O’Brien, a WSG official, said that in the coming days and weeks, the solar power system would be the main source of energy for the lights, relieving the dependence on power supplied by Guyana Power and Light.
He disclosed that another problem facing the department is the destruction of cabling to gain access to the insulated metal underneath.
To protect the cables now, the department has started to install metal sleeves making it much harder for vagrants and others to get at the metal.
According to O’Brien, WSG has been noting the hot spots for accidents around traffic lights, especially along Camp Street.
At D’urban and Haley Streets, traffic lights there had to be de-commissioned after numerous accidents occurred because of a blind spot as well as careless drivers. Vehicles approaching the lights would accelerate at the amber and would often be caught in the middle of the roadway when the light shows green to the traffic coming across the intersection.
O’Brien said that all of the accidents were due to irresponsible driving. The traffic laws stipulate that the amber light is a cautionary light but the drivers held a different view.
Some crashed into the lights there (D’urban and Haley Streets) and about a year ago the department decommissioned the lights. O’Brien said that since then there have been no more accidents. Drivers recognize the blind spot and they come to a halt.
But recovering the monies for damaged traffic lights has not been an easy task for the Ministry.
According to Minister Robeson Benn, during his year-end press review on Friday, less than nine per cent of the outstanding monies have been paid.
The officials admitted that they are “taking a beating”
over the lights.
The Ministry is now working with the police to submit a list of traffic offenders who failed to pay for damage to the lights.
In August 2009, government successfully piloted the Administration of Justice Bill which increased the penalties attached to the damaging of public or private property.
The Bill was specifically designed to curb the uncontrolled and wanton waste in relation to the use of the road.
In the extant legislation, the public property was only deemed to be roads and bridges but with the amendments it was extended to include items such as traffic lights which have been a source of concern for many.

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