ON one of my many recent treks around Guyana I was almost run over by a young man speeding by on a bicycle. As alarmed I jumped to safety, I was aghast to note that this youth seemed to be making a ‘death dash’ on his bicycle with two very young school children perched in rather precarious positions on the machine, whilst he filled their nostrils with dust and sand from the traffic competing for space on that busy roadway.I was mad at what I saw, and would not let it pass. Dropping my belongings, I sped after that youth, bellowing at the top of my voice. Finally, I caught up with him as he slowed to take a turn; and, dashing before him, I managed to take this photo.

Now, my good people, take a long hard look at this photo and ponder on what could have possibly been the outcome had this bicycle chain broke, the brake failed, or a tyre burst open from a puncture. Quite frankly, I couldn’t care less what would have happened to the rider; but the two innocent kids would have been placed in deadly jeopardy through the thoughtless actions of an insensitive individual, and I couldn’t live with that.

What some people do not realise is that transporting students in this manner, especially on busy roadways with riotous traffic, is not the wisest course of action to take. Readers, if ever you see someone practising this dangerous stunt, get them to stop and immediately give them a deserved tongue licking.