Dear Editor,
During the months and months of the dreaded COVID, loved ones were lost and many were unable to physically say goodbye. Family members should have been provided with the hospital gowns, masks, gloves etc. to visit and say farewell. Decision makers’ throughout the world were so wrong. Likewise, our roads in Guyana. The increased number of vehicles on what was already overly congested roads has given rise to more road crashes. Each day, many persons like myself, fear leaving our homes to battle through the unruly traffic. Drivers generally have no road sense and flout the traffic laws, are speeding or drunk/drug driving. Pedestrians, especially our children run wild as schools no longer have road safety patrols.
This year, almost every day, innocent persons are killed or injured for life. 99% avoidable, and again we who are left behind are unable to say goodbye or afford the medical care. Decision makers are so wrong. When will road safety become a priority? Does no one check the cost of losing our young people, our future, or the cost of treatment and care for the injured? Or the families who can hardly afford to cremate or bury their loved ones? The cost to our country is horrendous. We can soon boast that we may become the richest Caribbean country, but unless our laws are enforced to stop these preventable deaths and injuries on our roads we have failed! To those who supposedly care… our decision makers, our lawmakers… Let’s face reality.
We have a pandemic of deaths and injuries. Our “young” inexperienced traffic police, cannot cope. The judicial system has so many victims going to court seeking justice month after month year after year to no avail, and it is a truly traumatic experience. One cannot blame victims of road traffic crashes to accept monies to conclude their tragic court cases. Motor cyclists no longer feel the need to wear helmets. Against the law, but few are stopped by the police. It is a known fact that we do not have the medical expertise to assist in head injuries, and the shortage of blood is another worrisome issue. Worse yet, these so very guilty cyclists have their precious child/children as passengers with no protection. There is a lack of vigilance in reprimanding non helmet users. Addressing these and so many other road safety issues is a moral and economic disaster.
\On a personal level, my daughter Alicea was killed by an alleged speeding drunken driver, 27 years ago. Alicea’s memorial cross for no known reason was recently removed on the ECD road. As the World Day of Remembrance for road traffic victims is on the 19th of November, her cross has been replaced. If I could visit her grave, it would give me some comfort, however, for so many years, like thousands of Guyanese I am unable to do so as the Georgetown burial ground is unsafe and in such a deplorable state. Yesterday, was the death anniversary of Wallie, son of Lucille Bacchus of Mothers In Black, her daughter Fareena died 10 days after. Both were killed by a speeding drunken driver. Lucille buried her only two children at Good Hope, she too has been unable to visit their graves in years due to the condition of the cemetery.
Unfortunately our country holds little or no respect for those who have died. Why/who removed Alicea’s Memorial Cross? I leave to that person(s) conscience. Since my daughter’s avoidable death in 1996, I have lived through several Presidents, Government Ministers, Police Commissioners, and Government officials. In recognition of my Road Safety work, I have received medals and commendations from Guyana, the Caribbean, UK, and USA and yet after so many, many years, I and so many members of Mothers In Black, have to continue witnessing the escalating deaths on our roads. Please hear our call to get international road safety help that our country so desperately needs.
Mothers In Black accomplished more in their four years of a weekly silent protest than what has ever been done in 27 years. Regrettably the Road Safety laws that we fought so hard for are not enforced. My sincere condolences to those who have lost. It is the personal stories of those who experience the grief of losing a loved one that should resonate to all. We are told, “Time heals”. Sorry… our love and memories live on… and we who can, will continue to remind persons that speed kills, do not drink and drive. There are too many preventable deaths and injuries on our roads. Speed Kills!!!!
Sincerely,
Denise Dias
Mothers In Black
