– now calls for a national solution to end road carnage
One week after former leader and founder of the Alliance For Change (AFC) – Khemraj Ramjattan at an official party press conference – called for the 2 am curfew to be reinstated as a means to curb road accidents, newly elected leader Nigel Hughes on Friday related that no policy decision on the matter has been taken.
Addressing a press conference at its party’s headquarters, Hughes indicated that a national solution to the road carnage is required.
“The Alliance For Change notes the concerns raised with regards to the statements made on the 2 am curfew at our last press conference and wishes to correct a few misconceptions,” Hughes started off saying.
He added, “Since the advent of our new executive, the 2 am curfew has not yet been discussed and therefore no policy decision has been taken.”
According to the AFC Leader, “It is our hope that a solution that balances our support for private sector entertainment spots to be profitable with safe and responsible practices including a change in the culture of speeding and driving under the influence, might be found.”
Hughes also called for a national solution to the road carnage. This changed position from the AFC comes amid widespread criticisms of its call to reinstate the curfew.
In fact, the AFC had not even received support from its parliamentary opposition partner, the Peoples National Congress (PNC) which expressed in a statement that “the PNCR has noted media reports that quote the AFC, in the person of its former Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, as saying that the 2 AM curfew should be re-instated as a measure to reduce road accidents and fatalities. Without any empirical data or statistical analysis, the PNCR cannot support the AFC’s proposal.”
Moreover, the PNCR stated that the road accident crisis could not be resolved by merely one measure but rather, a holistic and data-driven approach, with continuous monitoring.
In addition, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Bharrat Jagdeo dismissed the calls by AFC noting that the party has clearly shown that it has no new ideas.
“Nobody goes out on a Friday night or a Saturday night before midnight,” he added. “This is our culture. You know how much business is done (during those hours),” the Vice President explained.
Referring to the AFC politicians, Jagdeo contended that “these people are worn, out of touch with reality”.
The 2am curfew, which was imposed under the APNU+AFC Government, was often relaxed during the holiday periods where there would be higher-than-usual alcohol consumption among persons – thereby defeating the intended purpose of the curfew – to curb road fatalities, especially those caused by drunk driving.
Moreover, the curfew was widely criticised as being anti-business.
