AS usual, a well known columnist is in attacking mode via his piece in a private daily. This time he has launched a broadside against the PPP/C government, for sending condolences to the family of a ten year old lad, who died in a smash-up in the early hours of Independence Day. He accuses the administration of hypocrisy, as he claimed that they omitted in the message, the fact of non-functioning traffic lights as a cause of accidents – the main thrust of his vitriol.
First of all, the government must be commended for their care, by such a humane gesture; and since they have spelt out in the very wording, their intention of proceeding against certain categories of traffic offenders, the family of the deceased youth, and the nation will certainly take comfort in such assurances that legislative action against reckless road users is to be enacted. What is hypocritical about this? It is difficult for one to follow, much less to grasp the logic of this know-it-all columnist’s arguments that the non-functioning of the traffic lights was deliberate. One accepts the argument that traffic lights are indispensable to the proper regulatory flow of traffic. But as has been the fact on numerous occasions, even with these functioning lights, tragic accidents do occur. It is the human factor and their judgement that is often the deciding factor in road usage. Road users continue to infringe the commands of traffic lights, daily.  It is people who cause accidents.
Another point: how does he know that the lights at the tragic junction were not in working order? There was an eyewitness to the errant vehicle, driven at reckless speed, seconds before the tragedy.
It is obvious that this columnist is still reeling from the faecal encounter he experienced, recently; and therefore, his usual irrational mouthings are at crescendo levels, perhaps uncontrollable, too. Yet, he must desist from making wild, ranting statements, especially when the state shows care and concern; and against policies that are for the common good.