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Damage to roads…Importers, buyers now required to affix tyres on heavy equipment
Farmers and contractors who own heavy equipment are facing some tough new measures to protect the country’s roads. Among other things, importers of rice harvesters and other machinery will have to ensure that buyers are also given tyres.
This came out of a meeting with the police on Tuesday.
In recent times, there has been a growing awareness of the damage to roadways by especially farm equipment. This problem is more evident in the countryside area.
Recently, the Minister of Public Infrastructure complained that it had cause to stop equipment after noticing them abusing the roadways.
This was especially true for the new roadways in the West Coast Demerara area.
In the rainy season, the problem of mud on the roadways has been a source of anger for residents and even accidents, but with no action taken to correct the situation.
On Tuesday, a delegation from the Ministry, with permission from Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, met with Police Commissioner Leslie James, DSS, and Traffic Officer, Senior Superintendent, Linden Isles, to discuss a plan of action to address the matter of owners and operators of heavy-duty machines, who are damaging and blocking traffic on public roads in areas across the country.
The representatives from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure were Patrick Thompson, Chief Transport Planning Officer; Kester Hinds, Manager -Traffic/Safety/Maintenance; Andrew Weekes, Public Communications Officer and Dr. Sewnauth Punalall, Coordinator, National Taskforce Commission.
The Ministry said it has made several attempts over the years, to curb the situation involving operators with heavy duty machinery, but the “blatant disregard” by many operators to the damages made to public roads continued.
Commissioner James, in his contribution to the discussion, advised that while the force can arrest and prosecute those who failed to adhere to Chapter 51:01 of the Road Act of the Laws of Guyana, careful consideration should be taken in addressing the matter.
A number of decisions were taken.
The MPI and police officials pose following the meeting
The parties agreed to launch a public relations campaign to educate farmers and owners of heavy-duty machinery about the dangers of leaving their equipment on the roadways during the day and night, which can and has caused a number of injuries and deaths.
“Additionally, the campaign will focus on educating those individuals about the damage caused to the roadway when traversed by the equipment. This campaign will take the form of printed and electronic media, Public Service Announcements (PSAs), Social Media, etc.”
It was also decided that sensitization meetings will be held between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Guyana Rice Development Board, the Farmers Association of Guyana and the Guyana Rice Producers Association and other stakeholders.
Town Hall meetings will be held in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
According to the ministry, permission has been granted by Commissioner James for MPI to meet with Commanders of the Divisions within the aforementioned regions, to educate them about the dangers to life and limb and the need for their support to discourage farmers and owners of heavy-duty machinery from damaging public roads.
“Importers of heavy-duty machinery must provide to buyers a toolkit, which will allow farmers to attach safety mechanisms (tyres) to the wheels of those machines to prevent damages to public roads.”
The awareness campaign timeline will run from March 8 to September 9, 2019.
“Upon the expiration of the timeline, farmers who are found culpable will be prosecuted with the full penalty of the law according to Chapter 51:01 of the Road Act of the laws of Guyana. However, this timeline will not overlook farmers and owners of heavy-duty machinery who are found blatantly destroying public roads with their heavy-duty equipment between the periods.”
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