The AFC says a comprehensive road transportation policy needs to be designed and implemented in order to arrest the lawless and dangerous practices on the country’s roadways.
In a statement, executive member Gerhard Ramsaroop says the PPP government has continued to neglect road safety while “our people bleed and die needlessly on our roads,” the most recent being former NCN cameraman Ronald Livingstone.
“As if it is not enough that we lose 80% of our skilled people to migration to greener, safer pastures, the PPP Government continues to turn a blind eye to this situation that has evolved dramatically for the worse under its 20 years of rule. The Government instead, rests on its imaginary laurels, arguing the many vehicles symbolize progress, and refuses to formulate, much less implement a proper road transportation policy,” Ramsaroop said.
According to the AFC, while road accidents are a reality globally, Guyana’s situation is particularly deplorable as it does not possess a complex network of roads nor does it have extensive multilane highways but “we have a free-for-all compounded by corrupt law enforcement and corrupt drivers licence acquisition practices.”
The party says anyone with the requisite sum of $50,000 can obtain a drivers licence in Guyana today and that using the road among the many unqualified drivers who do not know the rules of the road, coupled with inadequate road demarcation and signage and poorly planned roads is hazardous.
“The Bharrat Jagdeo four-lane East Bank Highway, for example, has no storage lanes, nor adequate space for parking.” This leads to the fulltime use of the right lane, particularly by heavy-duty vehicles, though the right lane is supposed to be reserved for overtaking and turning, resulting in a dangerously uneven flow of traffic. In effect, this highway functions less efficiently than a wide two-lane road, the party said.
“The PPP managed also to reduce the efficiency of the Rupert Craig four-lane Highway by implementing a solid barrier for most of its length. Then you have the Bharrat Jagdeo Berbice Bridge that bars cyclists and cannot take machinery more than 20 tonnes,” the group said, adding that heavy-duty machines such as excavators and draglines have to be crossed by barge “which costs more than shipping a container from the US to Guyana. Can we say progress?”
Chaotic road signage, demarcations
Regarding road demarcation, not only is it inadequate and haphazard, but the paint used to do signage fades quickly, the group said, positing that metal signs would last much longer. The party also questions why “without warning” some roads become one ways and just as suddenly, revert to their original purpose, which obtains at Smyth Street between Hadfield Street and Brickdam. Bribery of law enforcement officers is also a common practice on the roadways.
The party took umbrage at Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee’s stance that only the PPP can judge him when he is in the service of the nation. “How many more will die under his baleful watch? How many more will die before the PPP does something?” it asked.
Big buses
The AFC demanded that government immediately formulates and implements a comprehensive road transportation policy that would include incentives for big buses to return to the roadways; revamping the issuing of drivers’ licences and optimizing the use of limited roadways by scheduling driving hours for lorries, garbage trucks; ensuring that roads are properly demarcated, and introducing a priority road and four-way stop system.
This must of course, be done through meaningful consultation with all stakeholders, including the business community, town councils and Customs House. The party also posits that there must be a proper road expansion plan, the drafting of which can be made easier by referring to those from the 1960s and 1970s such as the alternative East Bank route and the Del Conte Highway.
Regarding the alternative East Bank Highway, “the PPP, being true to itself, despite knowing of the plan and of provisions made for it to run through South Ruimveldt; they made no provisions through Diamond.” While this does not invalidate the plan, it increases the cost.
“The repressive and oppressive taxation system for the importation of vehicles must also be overhauled so as to encourage newer, smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles,” the party added.
Further, Ramsaroop said he reviewed the Guyana traffic situation and has published the study on his Facebook page for public viewing. It is a pdf file titled The Guyana Traffic Situation 2011 and can be downloaded from the website https://www.facebook.com/Rroups/allianceforchange/files/
