-renewed calls for road safety
The truck driver involved in the Amelia’s Ward accident that killed TV reporter Akila Jacobs will face dangerous driving charges.
Stabroek News understands that the driver, who lives in Linden, was arrested by police after the accident but later released on bail. Police sources say the man will face charges, including dangerous driving.
Jacobs, 23, died on Saturday after the minibus she was in collided with a truck at Amelia’s Ward, Linden. The driver of the minibus, Terrence Tappin, also died, while four other media operatives in the bus suffered severe injuries. The bus had been transporting media operatives who travelled to Ituni to cover the commissioning of a GT&T cellular site. The bus they were in was owned by the company, although Tappin was a contracted employee.
Meanwhile, amidst a flood of tributes for Akila Jacobs, there are renewed calls for safer use of the roads.
The Guyana Press Association (GPA), in a release issued on Sunday, said the entire media fraternity is deeply saddened at the death of Jacobs, who it called a talented and dedicated media practitioner. The statement said her death came at a time when several media houses are confronting the daunting challenge of sustaining high standards, partly due to a high staff attrition rate. “The fact that Akila entered the media almost immediately after completing secondary education and stayed the course remains a shinning testimony of her love for the profession that she selected,” the GPA said. “Ms Jacobs’ warm and polite personality undoubtedly aided her accomplishment of journalistic tasks in a dedicated manner- a legacy that she has left behind for her colleagues to emulate.”
The GPA added that the accident should serve as a wake-up call for media practitioners to place greater emphasis on public education and awareness on road safety, since road accidents remain a leading cause of death worldwide.
The Guyana National Road Safety also expressed concern at road crashes causing death and injuries. It extended its condolences to Jacobs’s family, while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. The organisation also appealed to all drivers to adhere to the 5Cs: caution, courtesy, consideration and common sense.
Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington extended his condolences to the relatives and friends of Jacobs and he also wished the speedy recovery of injured media practitioners. Carrington said he viewed the accident with great distress, particularly since throughout the region he and his officers work closely with the media on public information, education and development. “Given that Guyana is the headquarters of the community; the home of the Caricom Secretariat, my own interaction with the media in Guyana is considerable regular. As a result this tragedy is extremely and personally painful.”
Also sending out condolences was the main opposition party PNCR, which offered “its profound sympathy to the bereaved families of the deceased.” The party said Jacobs will “be specially remembered, at our press conferences, for her pleasant and engaging personality.” It also hoped for a full and complete recovery for those injured in the accident.
