GOVERNMENT has expressed concerns over the recent fatal accidents on Guyana’s roadways. As of November 26, 2019, there were 106 road deaths, Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, told reporters at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Harmon said the fatal accidents were as a result of speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics substances and inattentiveness.

He said Cabinet also noted the work of the Guyana National Road Safety Council and other civic organisations in helping the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to make the road networks safe.

“Cabinet was reminded of a certain directive which was given by his Excellency the President as far back as 2015 when he noted that we must pay attention to three things on our roads. In fact, he was addressing National Road Safety Week in 2015 and highlighted the need for education as a priority that the drivers, the users of the road, the children who use our roads, must be educated about the rules of the road,” Harmon said.

Harmon said the President also spoke about enforcement of the road traffic laws which needed to be more pronounced.

“He also spoke about engineering and the infrastructure, the roadways which we have, the traffic lights, lights on the streets and road signs and all of these things,” Harmon noted.

Dillon De Ramos, of Lot 85 Dennis Street, Campbellville and Senior Superintendent, Brian Eastman of 15 Norton Street, Wortmanville, said to be best friends since high school, died in an accident on the Sophia Public Road, in the vicinity of Rubis Gas Station, Tuesday night.

This fatal accident came one day after there were several others over the past weekend and also when the country is observing Road Safety Week.

Meanwhile, Harmon noted that since 2015 there has been significant improvements in the infrastructural work that were done countrywide.

The director-general also underscored the recent official commissioning of the $473M Barrack Retreat Corridor in Central Lethem.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is also looking to build 1.5 kilometers of roadways over the next five years which will result in the communities having highways and proper roadways.

“So it is important that we understand the importance of education and the careful use of our roads, and the fact that we must have proper signs. In this regard, Cabinet noted the recent suspension of work on the Mandela Highway improvement project,” he said.

Harmon explained that the minister of public infrastructure updated Cabinet on the status of the project and its suspension.

“The sub-contractor had sub-contracted several aspects of the project and some sub-contractors were not coordinating with each other which had resulted in several challenges being experienced, especially in relation to traffic management, health and safety issues and that as a consequence of this, the IDB, which is the principal funder for road project, had suspended disbursements to the contractor,” Harmon noted.

Further, he said Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson had also informed Cabinet that his ministry will be assuming responsibility for the management, health and safety aspects of the project and that the cost associated will be deducted from the contractor’s sum.

“Once that is completed, road works will resume,” Harmon said.