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Guyana has deteriorated badly over the last 15 years
Jan 28, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
As a resident of Schoonord, ParFaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, I have the unenviable task of leaving home between 6:00am and 6:15am to avoid the chaos that ensues between the Goed Fortuin road and the Demerara Harbour Bridge. For 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 firmly implemented by the Management of the bridge, and its enforcement arm, the Guyana Police Force’s 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 dear country over the last 15 years. First, the Management of the Bridge must have a visible presence on 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 “brown and black” 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 utilize the data they have collected over the years to study the trends of traffic use on the bridge, and 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 conceptualize one. Once these plans are developed, it is only logical for the Bridge Company to oversee its implementation.
With regard to the Police Traffic Department, they 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 times 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 the ones often seen bypassing the queue. For any system to work as designed, there must very strict adherence, which can only be achieved by uncompromising enforcement.
The police must not allow a single car to pass break the line, only in cases of emergency- In other countries, EVERY CITIZEN has to queue up and cross the bridge without priority 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 due to staff arriving perpetually late to their work stations.
Jeumayne Dummett
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