Main opposition coalition APNU today again called for the revocation of the appointment of Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee saying that for the eight years he has been in charge of the portfolio, the human safety situation in Guyana has deteriorated.
It referred in a statement to the three deaths on the Corentyne on Thursday in a hit-and-run accident allegedly by a driver under the influence of alcohol. Rohee is also the General Secretary of the ruling PPP.
The APNU press release follows:
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The deaths of three children from one family in multiple road accidents on the Corentyne Coast last Wednesday shocked the nation. This tragedy should be a warning to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force that the road traffic situation is out of control. Change is needed.
The National Assembly, in a marathon debate on 30th July 2012, passed a Resolution of “no-confidence’ in Mr. Clement Rohee and in his ability to exercise responsibility for human safety as Minister of Home Affairs. The Resolution called on the President Donald Ramotar to revoke Mr. Rohee’s appointment. This was not done.
Clement Rohee has been Minister of Home Affairs for nearly eight years and the human safety situation in Guyana has deteriorated. Fatal road accidents occur weekly. Other forms of lawlessness – including armed robberies, arson, banditry, contraband smuggling, gun-running, money-laundering, narcotics-trafficking, piracy, police brutality and corruption – have continued on a daily basis during Clement Rohee’s tenure of office.
Road accidents, particularly, are a grave human safety problem. There have been 57 deaths for 2014 already. There were 569 deaths over the five-year period, 2009-2013 as follows:
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | Total |
| 117 | 115 | 115 | 110 | 112 | 569 |
The biggest contributory factors to fatalities have been the lack of effective ministerial direction, lax law-enforcement and dangerous driving habits. There are now more than 80,000 vehicles on Guyana’s roads. Some drivers, however, simply do not have the skill or experience to be entrusted with responsibility for human lives on public roads. Many drive recklessly or at unsafe speeds and display aggressive behaviour and poor road discipline. Too many persons drive under the influence of alcohol.
The Guyana Police Force, however, exerts its energies on arresting of hundreds of petty offenders and touts. These actions cannot stop the spiraling toll of fatalities. Such operations do not address the fundamental causes of fatalities.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) repeats its demand for President Donald Ramotar to revoke the appointment of Clement Rohee as Minister of Home Affairs. Responsibility for human safety must be placed in the hands of a Minister who has the interest in curtailing the road carnage and in making our roads safe for our children.
