Road safety committee recommended for Region Two in light of traffic fatalities

Dear Editor,

I attended the statutory meeting of the RDC Region 2 recently where several pressing issues were ventilated by councillors on both sides of the house. Earlier during the meeting, Mr. Derrick Persaud was introduced to the Council as the acting REO. He will deputise in the absence of Mr. Rupert Hopkinson who has proceeded on annual leave. Mr. Persaud whose substantive post is that of DREO, served in both Region 7 and 4 prior to his current appointment. Meanwhile, Ms. Audrey Garraway was also introduced as a Social Cohesion Officer now attached to the Region. It was also announced that the Regional Engineer will be transferred.

It appeared thereafter that recent developments with regards to speeding on the public road among other related dilemmas warranted the suspension of the standing orders by the Regional Chairman to discuss same in the presence of a senior Police Officer. Several councillors then expressed grave concern about excess speeding which is contributing to an increase in road fatalities. They are also of the view that the speed limit should be revised in some areas while there was a suggestion that the age requirement to gain a driver’s licence should be increased to 21. The concerns were duly acknowledged by the Council which then through the Regional Chairman recommended the establishment of a Regional Road Safety Committee that will include members of the Council and other stakeholders. Additionally, councillors’ are condemning the indiscriminate manner in which vehicles and derelict machines are parked alongside the main road which they claim are traffic hazards. It was further suggested that notices be sent to all defaulters and a time span given for them to comply.

I would have previously highlighted this irresponsible act which remains a serious threat to the lives of motorists and pedestrians. Recently a motor-cyclist lost his life in Affiance while a similar accident occurred in Reliance. The Council therefore has undertaken to work closely with the law enforcement agency to address the issue with the conviction that it will be solved and the process sustained.

The other critical issue stemmed from a report by the Chairman of the health services committee who announced that there is a shortage of drugs at the two main hospitals which included the absence of almost 80 different medications. He further highlighted the dysfunctional state of equipment which is preventing patients from being properly treated. Additionally, it was reported that the main generator at the Public Hospital in Suddie is not operational; hence conducting surgeries during the fluctuating supply of electricity is a major risk to the lives of patients.

There were other issues that sought the attention of the Council including the declaration that contracts were awarded after the completion of works in various areas and which it was claimed were in breach of the Tender Board procedures. The Regional Vice Chairman highlighted same. Some councillors from the Opposition bench were then questioned as to why they approved the projects as members of the Tender Board. One councillor also refuted a claim by the office of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) that paddy infestation in the Region is high. Another councillor supported the point by stating that the quality of the paddy is generally excellent since most of the grades that he has witnessed at his mill are either A or B grades. Councillors have also appealed to the administration for transportation to be afforded to them to travel into the Pomeroon River so that they can assist in solving social issues that affect the Amerindians. They are also not in receipt of identification badges which they claim are preventing them from discharging their duties in some cases. Meanwhile, the Acting REO has undertaken to work closely with the RDC even as he has been mandated by the Council to expeditiously address several of the issues that were raised. It was also commendable the manner in which the meeting was conducted and matters discussed.

Yours faithfully, Elroy Stephney