Region Five Commander, Senior Superintendent Kurleigh Simon, yesterday stated that the horse racing event that was held on August 14 at West Coast Berbice, was beyond their expectations in terms of the traffic on the main road.
Jumbo Jet Thorough-bred Racing Committee (JJTRC) held its horse racing competition and entertainment on August 14. Two persons, H N Nawbatt and M Abraham, penned letters to this newspaper complaining about the chaotic traffic situation that ensued on that day. The traffic build-up stretched from Weldaad to Rising Sun, West Coast Berbice, and lasted approximately five hours before a smooth flow of the traffic was resumed.
Stabroek News contacted Senior Superintendent Simon, who stated that the police were aware of the traffic build-up, however, it was beyond their expectations since the mega event had a huge turnout. He also confirmed that the police were present at the event, but there were some irresponsible drivers who engaged in careless parking and interceptions. “On a day like that we can’t charge anyone but try to navigate the situation”, he said.
Attempts by Stabroek News to contact the JJTRC president, Nasrudeen Mohammed for comment, were unsuccessful.
One letter writer recalled seeing a family apparently heading to the airport, rolling their suit cases along the road after abandoning their vehicle (s). The two-lane road was temporarily transformed into a five-lane road during the chaotic build up with vehicles seen battling for maneuvering space. It noted that the police were virtually nonexistent and the few that were there, mysteriously disappeared. Persons were stuck in traffic for some 5 hours. Nawbatt’s letter stated that one policeman’s response to the situation was “Boss man, we deh pun the road since six [in the morning] and had nothing to eat.”
And according to Abraham’s letter, elderly persons with medical complications experienced the worst traffic jam as a consequence of the event.
Nawbatt in his letter also explained that vehicles were “bumper to bumper” in a desperate effort to avoid anyone from “boring” in front of them. Needless to say, there were a number of instances of minor fender benders, breaking of side mirrors, pedestrian accidents, frayed nerves, and clashes both verbal and physical.
