Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, on Wednesday launched Road Safety Month in Region Two at the Anna Regina Car Park and called on road users to use the roadways with caution. The month was launched under the theme “Road safety is not a slogan, it’s a way of life, respect the road”.
The activity was organized by the Ministry, the Guyana National Road Safety Council in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force and the Essequibo Road Safety Council and attracted a large gathering. Members of the Joint Services, school children, donors and representatives from the region participated in a road march prior to the rally.
Benn told the large gathering that road users need to be more attentive while on the roadway and estimated that over 80 percent of accidents are caused by speeding. He listed alcohol usage, smoking and texting and listening to music as contributing to speeding. Benn said too many lives are being lost [through vehicular accidents] and as such road safety awareness is important. He called on young drivers to change their behaviour and said that the National Road Safety Council along with the Guyana Police Force will continue to work with road users.
Calling on traffic police to ensure punctuality and respect while on traffic duty, Benn asked road users to also return the same respect to the police. He said his ministry is working to create an online app, which is expected to be available by month end, where persons can further complaints or commendation on work done by the police force. He spoke about the ministry’s safe country architecture which he is hoping to introduce in the different regions and spoke of the cameras that were installed in Region Four, which he said were assisting police to recognize breaches and to take immediate intervention.
The Prime Minister’s regional representative, Arnold Adams, emphasized that the region will continue to work with all major stakeholders to increase road safety measures as too many lives are being lost due to accidents. He suggested that it’s time everyone sees road safety as their business. And chairperson of the Essequibo Road Safety Council, Colleen Singh, said that council members will continue to work with the police and schools to spread awareness on the correct usage of the roadways. She used the opportunity to commend the Guyana Police Force traffic department for road safety works done in the past. Attending the launch was Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh, Commander of the Division Two, Khemraj Shivbaran and the Mayor of Anna Regina, Devin Mohan.
