A need for a road traffic department in Guyana

Jan 12, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Please allow me to express my concern in an attempt that action will or laws will be enforced after reading this article.

First of all, the over loading of minibuses has become a norm. No matter what time day or night, the mini buses are putting 4 in a seat. As a passenger I am calling on the relative authority to look into this matter. I do not know who is the authority, but it is definitely not the traffic police. They are on the road every day and on several occasions and several different ranks hailing up minibus drivers that are over loaded- One time there was even 5 persons in a seat.

I do not know where I should lodge a complain to, so I am hoping that this article can shed some light to the relevant authority. Even if the passenger is willing to report the bus driver, nothing is being done. I remember when there was a road block at the Sparendaam Police Station, all that the police did was cause a traffic build up for there was no other reasons or purpose for it. I have seen buses passing with over load, loud music and under taking while the ranks pull aside and give them pass. No stopping or anything of that sort. I am sure like me, many passengers can testified to this. At one time I even saw a passenger ‘hailing up’ a rank with weed in his hand. The best thing they did was come off the road and allow the traffic to flow smoothly. Speaking of the music, brings me to my second point.

I remember when there was a law against loud music in public transportation, I figure that law has been abolish since 90% or more of the public transportation has loud music. This stands true for most of the buses, exception is given to 50 buses, I have not heard any loud music from those buses. Keep up the good job. Buses running the area of Ann’s Grove, Victoria and along those routes are the worst. Buses running The East Bank and Parika are no different. Every night you have ranks driving around the bus park and allow this to go on. I hope somebody in Parliament can put forward a motion for a law to be pass against the loud music because at the moment, no the law of that sort exist. At any one time you can pull a random bus and check, you will most certainly find a huge music set.

The number of fatalities will only continue to increase unless a traffic department is established in Guyana. As of the moment we only have an accident department. Ranks of the Guyana Police Force who are trained to only appear and take action when accidents happen. That is, prepare a report, add a number to the statistics, and appear before the press to say there was an accident. Have you ever heard a rank saying they are the reason for the accident? The ranks are just as much to be blamed as the driver. The ranks know what is happening and turning a blind eye or not saying anything. I think ranks should be assigned areas and when there is an accident, they should be called up to be question because they need to be held accountable as well because many times ranks are aware of speeding buses, buses with loud music and over load and would not do anything. As such ranks should be accountable as well.

A harsher fine should be introduced for overload and loud music not just drinking and driving. The speeding is another issued. But I would not discuss it today, because time will not permit me. I am hoping also that the media can look into this matter as well.

Regards,

Tom. H Jones

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East Bank and Parika, Guyana Police Force, Sparendaam Police Station, Tom. H Jones, traffic department

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