Ignoring my preference for avoiding immediate comment on issues of simmering significance, sometimes better left to others blessed with sharper intellects, wider experience and more analytical attributes, I, never-the-less, plunge into two conversations today.
One is generations–old. Since our society experienced, around the mid-forties, the presence of newly imported motor-vehicles of all types from Britain. I refer to today’s tragic carnage due to traffic accidents. The other is rather “brand-new”: the fall-out from the People’s Progressive Party’s strategic stealth to forever own and control “Red House”, once the residence of its revered Leader Dr Cheddi Jagan.
Travis, traffic, safety, carnage
The truth is, I think it has all been spoken about ad-infinitum. From my earliest “teaching days” at the beginning of the sixties to now, there were hundreds of Road Safety Seminars, Traffic Education Programmes, Violation Campaigns and advice and admonitions from those “qualified”, whether in school, Parliament, police enforcement or relevant associations.
But it was when President Granger saw it fit to join the conversation a few days ago I thought I should contribute, repetitively, a few personal views. But nothing really new.
Travis (not his real name) is in his late twenties. Following his words and actions allows me my own comments. Again I caution: not much really new. Travis once loved his big motor-bikes. When he acquired an old Harley-Davidson speed was his companion. When he noticed members of a popular race-bike family continuously displaying contempt for the law regarding helmets he did the same, crashed into iron barriers and nearly succumbed to his broken and punctured parts.
Travis’ granny persuaded him to give up bikes, especially after an overseas aunty helped him to purchase a car. He was by then twenty-six. Not that I could not observe all he would relate and which I internalized over the decades, but this I could now sort of “re-work”
Today’s carnage and virtual daily deaths evolved from (1) Poor Traffic Safety Education (or lack of any); (2) Sub-intelligence and/or weak character; (3) The sub-culture of indiscipline and defiance and (4) sub-standard infrastructure and law enforcement.
Okay, I know your likely observation that I’ve omitted legislation, thousands of new vehicles and such related issues as driving under addictions. I take your point but they are accommodated within my four broad categories above. Take education. Travis’ primary and secondary schools boasted no such subject as Traffic Safety. He knew of no Road Safety Patrols either. He complains now that the Police Traffic Department teaches too little about attitudes and does not interact with “Driving Schools” or Instructors.
I laugh not at illiterates but there are drivers and riders who are at best, sub-literate. Thinking in traffic emergencies is so absent. And the modern-day brute-force-and-ignorance is rampant behind the wheels of trucks, mini-buses, SUV’s, taxis, even tractors. The young rich also hide behind wealth and connections after violations and traffic homicides occur. Poor Traffic Chief.
“Culture” and carnage
Frankly Speaking, whether accurately or not, I’ve long held this view: that modern-day personal indiscipline, born of lack of family/parental guidance and morality, supplemented by urges from both young and adult to flout authority, to defy laid-down laws have all resulted in chaos, injury and death on the roads. And yes, I submit that, in part, the latter was born when too many urban roads users ignored laws and instructions, because their politics differed from those in power – often hostile, unfair power.
There exists a sub-culture of indiscipline, lateness, defiance and aggression in this land. Poor President Granger has his Coalition’s hands filled to change decades of behavioural decadence.
Two anecdotes…
Recall at the start of this above, I promised nothing new? Well here are two very brief but true “stories”.
I, Fenty, once approached the Police Force’s Traffic Officer (“Chief”) with my serious suggestion which I suspected would be somewhat unpopular. To reduce loud vulgar music and over-crowding in mini-buses charge everyone in such ‘buses! I anticipated that when passengers know that they too would be fined $5,000, they would force driver and conductor to desist. The Traffic Chief did not even contemplate taking my idea to his superiors.
A few months after, the Chief was found driving drunk in Lodge, Georgetown.
A Guyanese living in Trinidad and Tobago approached a Police Traffic Sergeant to “arrange” a Driver’s Certificate for him for $10,000. (TT). The officer rebuked him, took him to the driving classes with the money, saying: “If I gave you a licence illegally, you might kill members of my own family. Learn to drive properly!”
The House, the Split
What’s my take on the PPP’s attempt to hijack and appropriate Red House for their exclusive use? It might startle many of you to know that I prefer the heritage edifice to remain the repository of Cheddi’s life’s work and legacy.
Whilst I’m ignoring the intemperate and intimidatory responses by the PPP to government’s proposals to reform the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre’s role, and acknowledging the reasonable analyses in the Stabroek’s recent editorial, I contend that unless a really large, adequate (state-of-the-art) facility to house all the former President’s memorabilia and histories is provided, Red House should stay with the Jagans’ legacy.
Reason? I feel that however he is being judged these days, Cheddi Jagan deserves to be continually studied and assessed. Separately. Yes, I know that circumstances and context must link him to other historical players – Burnham, Chase, King/Kwayana, his wife, opponents and admirers; foreign interests and ideologies – but I contend that he – and possibly his late wife – merit to stand alone.
Reverence and worship aside, even Jagan’s frailties, mis-steps and political tragedies must attract study by our younger students of our political history. Burnham should also stand alone. (Ask the living Ashton Chase and Kwayana!) Congress Place could accommodate Dessie Hoyte. The “others” should await their fate with their destiny. And oh! These Presidential libraries should be administered by archivists, managed by private groups receiving subsidies from the State.
So what about the PPP Jaganite/Burnhamite split? I’ll leave that for another time. But that is the cause of much of today’s problems!
Road safety ponderings
*1) I realise now that there is actually a National Road Safety Council. What does it do? “Awareness exercises” I suppose. Effective? The seminars, walks, remembrance days? Every bit helps, I suppose.
*2) That Council though, should lobby for higher fines for violators; traffic police – both mobile and at fixed points on duty at nights; for twice-yearly re-assessments of errant drivers – among other strategies.
*3) I recall Paul Slowe indicating the economic cost of our road accidents.
*4) Do the cameras prevent or merely record?
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
