-Traffic Departrment to crack down

MEMBERS of the public, more so pedestrians, have nowhere to walk after disembarking a minibus or other forms of transportation at Queen Street and Kitty Public Road, Georgetown, since the pavement there is being utilised by private taxi operators who ply their trade at the location, parking their vehicles on the pavement.

This trend has been observed for some time now and it was also reported to the Police Traffic Department for redress, but to no avail.

However, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken was informed of the happening and told this publication that he would look into the issue to have it remedied as early as possible.

This situation is of concern to not only pedestrians, but to all other road users, since it poses a hazard for pedestrians having to walk on the main road to get to their destinations, instead of utilising the pavement which is being blocked by private taxi operators; these operators park their vehicles there to solicit passengers from as early as 07:00 hrs in the mornings and late at nights.

It was noted that up to this morning several schoolchildren and even adults who had disembarked a minibus were almost run over by a large truck, because they had nowhere to walk except on the main road where they were sandwiched between vehicles.

Officer-in-Charge of ‘A’ Divison Traffic Department, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Ramesh Ashram, told this publication that he has since instructed the ranks to investigate and have the taxis and operators be moved or relocated.

He explained that it is not an authorised parking area and they should not be parked there in the first place impeding the free flow of traffic and road users.

Several pedestrians reportedly expressed their concern about the situation to the taxi drivers but they were rude and one replied: “We hustling too, money got to make,” as he then continued per normal.

(By Michel Outridge)