THIS week, the nation was thrown into deep mourning. Notably, we lost five brave soldiers. Apart from Colonel Mike Charles, who captained at least two flights I happened to be on, I can’t recall ever meeting or interacting with any of our other GDF soldiers who fell.

Despite not knowing them, the deep sorrow and despair we shared as a nation was unimaginable. For those who knew these men personally and those who lived with them, I’m sure the sorrow is unfathomable.
I saw images of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces President Dr Irfaan Ali crying; this must have cut deeply. The events relating to this tragedy will forever be etched in our memory. Nothing but sympathy for the family and loved ones.

Before the statuses of the survivors were known, it was touching to read the social media post made by the wife of Staff Sergeant Jason Khan. It spoke of a brave and courageous person with the will to survive in adversity. She spoke of a husband who is deeply loved, a husband who is dedicated to his family, a man dedicated to his work.

Though his death created a chasm in her heart, and the hearts of those who knew him, I feel as if her words are words of comfort for the rest of us; his personality suggests that he didn’t just lay down, he fought. This nation thanks Mrs. Khan for giving her husband to us. Sincere condolences.

The back stories of the last moments of each of the fallen may never be heard, and maybe we don’t even need to hear them, but as a nation, we take comfort in the character and personality of men like Sgt Khan who gave everything in service to his nation. Farewell, countryman. And to the survivors, your country stands with you, we wish you full recovery.

This week, we also lost the great Guyana and West Indian cricketer, Clyde Butts, to a tragic road accident. Condolences to all those touched by his life. His contributions are unquestionably robust. Butts met his death on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) after an accident with a truck. This exact line could be written dozens of times over the last few years.

Just substitute Butts with the names of numerous John and Jenny Does who have perished through being rammed by trucks. I have also been the victim of truck tragedies on the East Bank public road. I lost two cars in three years to these out-of-control trucks. In 2020, I was travelling with my entire family on board, when we were rammed from behind by a humongous “sand-truck.”

It’s nothing short of a miracle we made it out alive and unhurt; I am a believer in the graces of God. Earlier this year, another person was driving my car and was rammed and “written-off.” Yes! You guessed it, by a truck on the East Bank of Demerara. This accident occurred on the same day the police commander with responsibility for the East Bank was also rammed by a truck.

Thankfully, on that day, there were no fatalities. Just two weeks ago, the car I now drive was rammed by a truck, while someone else was driving; I was in the back seat. The truck in front of us was driving so fast at night that it ran right into a heap of sand on the side of the road. We came to a stop, the standard driving distance, behind the truck.

Without consideration for whatever vehicle may be behind him, the driver reversed at high speed into the front of my car. I am still driving around with a wrecked bonnet, grille and bumper. Yes! On the EBD.
Almost every person who has utilised the roads of the EBD can recount stories of near misses and close shaves by speeding trucks. It is high time that strong, creative measures and rule changes be taken to regulate the movements of trucks on the public roads of EBD.

We should probably consider a points system for drivers and owners, new insurance rules, speed control and monitoring systems, among other measures. Tragic lorry stories are innumerable. The authorities can’t continue to sit and ignore the problem; it cannot just be wished away.

On a related note, considering the number of vehicles on our roadways and the number of expanding and new networks of roads, it is time to create a Department of Transportation and Road Safety.
Bring all matters related to road transportation under one roof. Driving competence, licensing, fitness and all other matters relating to road safety, traffic studies and road-use policy.

The current fragmented system has outlived its real effective purpose. We currently rely on a fragmented system that catered to the nearly 100 cars on the less extensive roads of the 1970s. It’s time to upgrade.
This week, we also laid to rest Justice Prem Persaud who served this nation with distinction. I first met Justice Persaud in 2014 when I brought a case against Digicel to the Public Utilities Commission. Prior to that, I’d only read of him in the press.

I believe Justice Persaud was impressed with my lawyer-less presentation and the arguments put before the PUC where he sat as chairman. A ruling was made in my favour. To this day, the result of that ruling benefits all customers on all mobile networks.
Since that time and until the end of his tenure at the PUC, Justice Persaud called me personally on numerous occasions to seek my perspective on many complaints and cases brought before the PUC. May his family find comfort in knowing that he was a humble soul, who left a legacy of commitment to excellence. We salute you Prem.