… as Road Safety Volunteer Programme is launched
THE dream of President Bharrat Jagdeo, for the setting up of a Road Safety Volunteer Programme, for a pro-active approach towards advancing the cause of road safety in Guyana, was yesterday realized, when more than 500 persons, expressing commitment, converged on the National Conference, at Liliendaal, for the launch of the programme.
The initiative was in response to a mandate given the Road Safety Council by President Bharrat Jagdeo, who has repeatedly expressed concern over the wrecklessness on the nation’s roads and the wanton loss of lives.

Giving a brief background to the programme, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, recalled that  the initiative was birthed by President Jagdeo when he met with the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) last November, and called on them to seek out and identify persons who could be engaged in a pro-active and effective  road safety programme.

Taking up the mandate, the NRSC was able to mobilize and enlist a cadre of persons committed to the cause. Their task would be to join hands with the National Road Safety Council, and together, up the ante in the interest of advancing the cause of road safety in Guyana. During workshop sessions held following the formal launch, volunteers were briefed on their roles and responsibilities, and prepared for the way forward.

The feature address was delivered by President Bharrat Jagdeo; and brief remarks were delivered by Presidential Candidate for the PPP/C, Mr. Donald Ramotar; Minister Clement Rohee; Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene; and Mrs. Denise Dias of the Alecia Foundation/Mothers in Black.

The programme also included a dramatic piece by Henry Rodney and team, illustrating the tragic outcome of ‘drinking and driving’, in addition to the National Road Safety Song “Follow de Rules” by Tennecia De Freitas.

And Mrs. Denise Dias, touched by the numbers and the moving show of solidarity, and the desire on the part of fellow-Guyanese to help save lives on the roads, reacted to the occasion with deep appreciation. Mrs. Dias, whose daughter, Alecia Dias, was killed on the road, asserted,  “My faith in society has been restored when I look around and see so many people here today.”

Dwelling a while on the ills of road carnage,  Ms Dias referred to the degradation of road safety standards as a man-made epidemic which she believes can be overcome with man-made solutions.

And while, acknowledging the merits of the five Cs of Road Safety, she submitted for inclusion, what she termed the three Es of road safety as well:  Energy, Education and Enforcement.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Henry Greene, observing that ‘following the rules’ of road safety is so very important and critical, considered the song rendered to be both important and relevant in the scheme of things.
He said it was very heartening to see that so many people, especially the young, are concerned and willing to assist in making the difference.

Noting that the role of the police is very wide, in relation to capturing the essence of road safety, the Commissioner conceded that, if people in general, obey the rules as they ought to do, then there wouldn’t be such a huge stockpile of traffic matters as currently exists. Reiterating that people do not follow the rules, he noted that, for the year so far, over 35,000 traffic related charges have already been made, and a large percentage of these has been for speeding and  ‘drinking and driving’.

The top cop also cited inattentiveness while driving as another ill, and lamented the practice of speaking on cell phones and looking at TV by motorists at the wheel.