Stalling the Traffic – Saving Lives

Feb 21, 2022 Peeping Tom

Dear Editor,

There is much boasting about development – mostly in terms of infrastructure – but which appears not to apply to the streets in several parts of the Capital City that are in serious disrepair. Incidentally, there are parts of the city where the streets remain unnamed ever since the communities were developed.
But while there is boasting about progress and accommodation for increasing traffic, for some reason no thought seems to be addressed to the establishment of parking facilities. Not too long from now traffic will be stalled in the heart of Georgetown, more than it is in fact now.
For example, little or no attention appears to be given to the increasing confusion in the Stabroek Market Square – certainly not by the Parliamentarians next door. Nor is the Traffic Chief creative enough to enquire of the availability of the space occupied by the abandoned Guyana National Cooperative Bank, where a storeyed parking facility can be erected and utilised for a reasonable fee.
Next, a comprehensive survey should be undertaken to identify other convenient areas where parking lots can be established. Such an exercise must involve the private sector and the Mayor and City Council.
Incidentally, ever since in Trinidad & Tobago, business places like banks, hotels, restaurants and others were required to include parking in their construction plans (also partially observed locally). So one wonders about the parking arrangements for the hotel being erected at Oronoque and Robb Streets. Already there is a large hospitality facility on Church Street, Queenstown which has to rent parking space – Queenstown Mall (?).
The situation begs the urgent question of how vehicles of all the invited invasion of foreign companies, staff and customers are to be accommodated?
A more immediate need for controlled parking obtains in Carmichael Street, not far from the Presidential Compound. Little attention is paid by the Traffic Department to the increasing crowd of vehicles in the area of Woodlands Hospital outside which already sick and injured must be facilitated. No one seems to have given thought to creating greater space, say at the corner of Carmichael and New Market Streets of the Promenade Gardens – for up to 10/15 cars under well organised control to be agreed by the relevant authorities. For certain, this should be a relief for the eloquently silent management of the hospital, patients and drivers themselves.
Hopefully, the relevant leaderships would consider this small project as falling within their ‘Infrastructure’ Programme, and more so within the Presidential geography. How will an emergency in the neighbourhood be contained?
In addition to the above, there must be concern about the increasing flow (if at all) of vehicles of all sizes into the country and related new drivers, coping their way without intelligent signage, and effective lighting, if at all. The situation obviously portends more accidents, injuries and deaths. Tragically, after the survivors are treated in hospital, there is no known arrangement for their further health and indeed economic sustenance, including for their families.
Protecting lives on the road should be regarded as a legitimate component of sustenance of any human being’s development.

E.B. John

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