-Founder of ‘Mothers in Black’ honoured
THE Home Affairs Ministry, on Monday last, hosted a ceremony to recognise the sterling contributions of Denise Dias, Founder of the Alicea Foundation and Mothers in Black, to ensuring safer roadways in Guyana. The Alicea Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in Guyana in 1997, in memory of Alicea Gouveia, who was a victim of a fatal road accident. Unknown to her parents, Alicea had opened a life insurance policy, money which her parents, Denise and Dennis Dias, used to start the Alicea Foundation, which subsequently led to the formation of Mothers in Black.
Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, in his remarks, said that the inter-connection between the Mothers in Black and road safety is an unquestionable one that is beyond reproach.
He said that too often people would form organisations but would lack direction and a sense of purpose; Mothers in Black, on the other hand, has always maintained a constant focus, which is the creation of safer roadways.
“Our roads are becoming busier than before; the road network has not expanded correspondingly with the number of vehicles that we have now, and therefore road safety is extremely important,” Minister Rohee said.
He added that Mothers in Black, under the stewardship of Dias, has managed to raise its profile to a national level so much so that it has become a household name in Guyana.
Minister Rohee disclosed that the Ministry is working closely with the Police Force, and the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is making good headway, examining initiatives suggested by President Bharrat Jagdeo. One such initiative is the implementation of the stray catchers’ unit which was recently launched in an effort to reduce the prevalence of animals on the roads.
The demerit system is another idea that is being explored, whereby persons who have been charged more than three times for traffic-related offences could have their licences revoked.
“Every life lost on the road is a loss to our country, is a loss to our national assets, in so far as human resource is concerned,” he maintained.
Minister Rohee expressed the hope that Dias’ staunch advocacy on road safety will be emulated by all road users.
Deputy Commissioner, Operation, Lekraj Persaud, said that all ranks of the Guyana Police Force are constantly exhorted to get more involved in road safety awareness, and its strategies are continuously being reviewed in an effort to ensure safer use of the roads.
He lauded Dias’ resilience in looking past her own tragedy and moving in the direction to create the much needed awareness with regard to the importance of road safety in Guyana.
He disclosed that the force is looking at implementing new strategies on road safety.
Dias’ selfless, voluntary contributions to ensuring safety on the country’s highways were also lauded by the NRSC, with which the Mothers in Black works very closely. The organisation is now inserted as a permanent feature in the NRSC.
Dias, in her words of appreciation, said, “Road safety is everybody’s business; we all have a duty to care and keep our children and young people safe.”
Last year she was invited to the Bill Clinton’s Global Initiative Conference in New York to tell her story. During that meeting, it was decided that on May 11, 2011, a global road safety decade of action will be launched.
As such, Mothers in Black, with support from government, the NRSC, GPF and both private and public sectors, will be launching an education road safety campaign, which will be Guyana’s contribution to the United Nations’ Global Decade of Action. (GINA)