Dear Editor,
I write with concern to the behavior of the vehicular fleet assigned to the relevant Embassy represented under DPL5. My experience recently occurred on the East Coast Highway in the vicinity of Sparendaam heading in an easterly direction. I observed two “Diplomatic” vehicles in front of my car also heading East in the southern lane (closest to the median). At the front was a Land Cruiser which most likely was transporting the very important person and at the rear was a Nissan X-trail which appeared to be the escorting vehicle. Whilst the land cruiser in front appeared to be following the rules and regulations of Guyana by keeping in the lane chosen, I observed the DPL5 escort vehicle at the rear behaving similar to an action scene out of a ‘Mission Impossible’ movie I saw. The driver began to straddle the center of the road as if to disallow vehicles from passing the entourage which in my view is most disrespectful and quite frankly against the constitutional rights of us Guyanese as it relates to freedom of movement. I have no issue with the very important people who occupy the offices and vehicles of DPL 5 feeling very important, but I also have very important things to do like feeding my family here in Guyana and contributing my taxes towards building the very same roads that DPL 5 seems to believe they have exclusivity to.
What further upsets me is that I have recently observed the security detail transporting our President, Vice President, Prime Minister or other indigenous high ranking officials adopting a most calm and safe approach towards transporting such individuals. I can’t recall the last time I heard or saw our President’s detail blaring sirens or adopting aggressive measures to displace his fellow Guyanese as if to say “GET OUT OF THE WAY!!.” I even recently saw the Vice President’s detail quite content to allow fellow drivers to pass freely on the right without any need to show how important he is. So my concern is that if our leaders have come to the realisation that we Guyanese are peaceful and law abiding but also deserve respect since this is our country after all, what gives DPL 5 the right to impose their “feeling of superiority” or attempt to bully us? I would greatly appreciate if the SOP’s and training of the drivers assigned to the mighty DPL 5 fleet be reviewed in a positive and constructive manner. Maybe they can try blocking the path of his Excellency’s entourage the next time they feel superiorly important.
Sincerely,
L. Evans
