The reporter suggested that in dealing with the minibuses that ‘run the hot plate’, (or in other words break the line, while engaging in an illegal parking, in order to pick up passengers) the police should in addition to charging the driver and conductor, also institute charges against the passengers in the bus.

While this may sound drastic to some it has some merit. If one was to observe what transpires with the minibuses ‘running the hot plate’ one would notice that the persons who join these buses do so because they do not want to wait for the bus in line to fill. Therefore they choose to participate in the lawlessness.

In the United States the passengers in a vehicle that is being driven by an individual who is under the influence of alcohol is also charged. This places a burden on the public to ensure that not only they obey the law but to ensure that persons whom they have influence over also adhere to the law.

There have been many criticisms about the behaviour of the persons who provide the public transportation service; these complaints have resulted in the passage of legislation to try to control the behaviour. The truth is that some of commuters are just as guilty as the service providers.

If they should boycott the buses that are not in compliance with the law and provide an adequate and safe service then that would be as effective as enforcing the recently enacted legislation. If on the other hand they choose to encourage the lawlessness which poses a threat to public order and safety, then they too should face the force of the law.

The lawlessness on the roads must be stopped and the ‘people’ must assist the police in this regard. The majority of citizens I am certain will support the Minister of Home Affairs if he should take this matter to the National Assembly to enact a law to deal with the passengers as well as the drivers and conductors.

On another point of public safety, there have been a number of accidents on the Linden Highway involving trucks/trailers parked without lights or reflectors, recently I have noticed that in the evenings between 20:00h and 23:00h large container trucks are traversing the East Coast Demerara highway. To compound this dangerous practice is the fact that the trailers are unlit and there is no way of being warned if and when they are stopping.

The intervention of the police traffic department in this regard would prevent a serious accident and loss of life that is waiting to happen.
ALBERT JACOBS