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Present traffic conditions an indictment of the Guyana Police Force

Oct 28, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

I am fortunate to have visited countries in the Caribbean, South America, North America and Europe and I can say without fear of contradiction that I have never seen or experienced the level of contempt, disrespect, and disregard for traffic laws like what I experience daily in Guyana.

You get the distinct impression that the traffic policemen are only there to direct traffic at busy intersections and take statements after accidents have occurred, assuming that there is no settlement for damages among the affected parties.

On a daily basis whilst driving, you MUST encounter the following;

  • Motorcyclists riding without helmets past stationary policemen as well as those that may be mobile (on motorcycles or in a car or pick up). They even pull up and stop at an intersection controlled by a stationary traffic rank as if it is the norm.
  • Drivers, especially taxis and minibuses, not wanting to stop at major roads and brazenly drive up against the traffic causing unnecessary obstruction and delays.
  • Minibuses and taxis, especially, undertaking on Homestretch Avenue as if it is the norm without any care in the world.
  • If there is a line formed, there are drivers, especially minibuses, and taxis, who believe they have the God given right to form a second and even a third lane in clear violation of the law without any care and they do so with reckless abandon.
  • Recently, truck drivers can be observed not yielding at the roundabout and some of them drive as though they are competing with minibuses or taxis to reach their destination.

I am absolutely sure that everyone reading this letter can relate to the abovementioned facts and are as disgusted and fed up with them the same way as I am. It is as though Guyana has descended into the realm of lawlessness comparable to that of a failed state with clear indications of things getting worse instead of better.  It is clear for everyone with common sense to conclude that this lawlessness is because of a total lack of law enforcement and these individuals know that there are no consequences for their illegal actions. That is, if they are not involved in an accident.

The Commander of ‘D’ Division commented in a published article on 2023-10-25 that road fatalities in his division have increased by over 300% in 2023. Motor cyclists are losing their lives like nothing and in most if not all cases, they were riding without helmet. Almost every single day, there are accidents which occur as a consequence of carelessness and reckless driving.  The current situation is an indictment on the Guyana Police Force. Every once in a while, you read of these “dibby dibby” exercises where ‘x’ number of vehicles were caught with “this” or “that” and then you hear nothing else meanwhile its back to normal and I dare say even worse. There must be a solution to this confounded nonsense. Order on our roads must be restored.

The following needs to be done and done with alacrity:

  1. The cameras that are installed all over the place need to be used to capture instances of recklessness which should result in the law breakers being summoned to court and dealt with according to the law without exception.
  2. Implement mechanisms where recorded infractions by private citizens on their dashcam or cellphones can be used as evidence to prosecute these lawless drivers. In this way, they will know that their stupid and disgusting actions can be recorded, and they will face prosecution.
  3. In cases where there are repeat offenders, the state should benefit from their stupidity by sentencing them to do community work, primarily cleaning drains as well as the streets.
  4. Any police officer where there is evidence to show impropriety on their part should suffer similar fate as well as having their services terminated.

This situation needs to be addressed urgently and the Guyana Police Force needs to arrest this decline and restore respectability and relevance with urgency. The current Commissioner should seek to ensure that his legacy is not one where lawlessness abounds beyond comprehension but one where respect for Law and Order was restored during his tenure. The Guyanese public deserves better.

Yours truly,

Eric Whaul

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