Dear Editor,
Kindly pardon the intrusion – once too often perhaps – given the number of missives I have sent to the relevant authorities, including the National Road Safety Council.
The last time I engaged a representative of this body was to encourage the latter to consider the mounting of a workshop of relevant stakeholders, including transport businesses and services, engineering, medical and legal professionals, private sector organisations and interested NGOs, to convene to develop a comprehensive strategy for traffic control for the next ten years at least. But alas no response, most likely because of the usual waiting on some central directions.
As in SN’s Wednesday, May 16 edition, numerous correspondents over the years have expressed various concerns about the lethal state of the transport (non) system in Guyana, and, at the same time, have made useful recommendations, but again it would seem that unless ‘instructed’ the officials concerned would neither read, nor listen for that matter.
One important factor, for example, seems to be continually overlooked, albeit amongst other ‘talk’ about tourism. From the perspective of a visitor, including returning Guyanese, Guyana has easily the most hostile public road communication system of anywhere. For some inexplicable reason those who manage our traffic literally force motorists, the vast majority of whom (eg, taxi drivers) is untrained, to bury their heads in the sand (more often mud) and look downwards for written signs, while ignoring the obvious expectation that the mere installation of traffic lights would be complemented by the erection of all other traffic signage – visible from a reasonable distance, day or dim night. The intransigence in this regard defies common sense. Why also the paucity of speed limit signs in the city and other critical areas?
Again one keeps wondering about the official obstinacy in requiring that all drivers of various public transport vehicles be appropriately trained and certified, particularly given the alarmingly disproportionate number of aged new drivers.
And finally, when we stop, what are the authorities’ plans for parking in increasingly congested spaces?
Once more one awaits ‘breatherliserly’ for the serious efforts to rise to international standards of traffic management and control.
Yours faithfully,
E B John
