An insulation with road sensation and crime ruination

Dear Editor,
What is happening in Guyana in the streets, roads, homes and bars is simply unbelievable, horrendous and unacceptable. The senseless road carnage remains perpetually horrific and very few, it would appear, seems to care to go the extra inch and take any degree of precaution so that the prevention of accidents may be limited or avoided.
At least ten people lost their lives over the past two weeks and as many sustained serious and multiple injuries. Guyana can ill afford the loss of valuable human resources, especially at this time of the developmental stage. Each one has a role to play and each one’s presence is of paramount importance for nation building.
So many reasons are responsible for the building up this scary fatal accumulation on a weekly basis, the chief one being drinking and driving followed by speeding. Reckless driving, inattentiveness, carelessness, inexperience, showing off, failing to observe traffic protocol, not adhering to common courtesy and simply not taking precaution, all these factors do contribute to this escalating catastrophe. Will the presence of more traffic cops, both in quality and quantity, in more strategic areas and posted day and night help? Will more traffic lights in the rural areas help where it seems more accidents are being incurred rather than the urban areas.
How about frequent breathalyzer test stops? Radar guns availability for reinforcement throughout the country may enhance the work of traffic cops. Then again, CCTV speed cameras in numerous strategic locations can work as a preventative method and the limitation of human resource will not be an expense factor. Roads bumps will dissuade speeding and more read crossing signs will assist pedestrians.
Soon, Guyana must consider the recognition for special cyclist zones. Will the widening of roads where physically possible help or add to the detriment? Perhaps, all these suggestions are only being reiterated and implementation are contingent upon uncontrollable factors. Then again, simple negligence, carelessness and an attitude of immature approach to good driving common sense, may determine the obvious reason why road accidents are unbearable existential in a clustered society that has no leg room for maneuverability!
Then, there is the other side of the coin that is a partner in crime, the unimaginable, catastrophic and villainous waste of lives, the brutal murders that exist and extend to all parts of the country and in every society that spares no exception. Again, the numbers of lives lost and people left injured over the past two weeks are equal or competitive to the road madness figures.
The chopping, gun shooting, knife stabbing, bottle attacks and fighting emanating from criminal activities, robberies and drinking and conversational misunderstandings and family feuds are simple inexhaustible, intolerable and atrocious. Sociologists and psychologists are probably having a field day trying to understand, analyze and monitor these transactions for future research that can provide rich references.
The police are unprepared and ill equipped to handle this outburst in the (seasonal/unseasonal?) crime wave hitting Guyana in tsunamic and international gangster style ridiculousness. At what point and where do one start to play the blaming game and commence the finger pointing? How do the relevant authorities begin to get a grasp and firm hold of this dangerous situation and minimize its escalation or eliminate the spread and growth? Are there visible underling elements that are controllably obvious but significantly ignored by a disguised appropriateness? Is there any encouraged deliberation in specific areas with hidden agenda? Are the COVID-19 repercussions the guilty base line? Should consideration be entertained pertaining to the past characteristics from the previous administration?
How responsible is the society, the places of worship, the communities, the absence of relevant youth programs, the lack of leadership qualities? How competent are the security forces? Is the relevance of the renewal and revival of vigilant neighborhood-watch conducive? The placement of more CCTV cameras is not a choice but a necessity in the modern world and its distribution not only in Georgetown but in rural areas should become a regular and welcoming sight.
So many burning questions without complete answers disturb the peace and tranquility of Guyanese. People are not only worried but perturbed that this situation has been under scrutiny for complacency for too long and more aggressive actions need to be implemented to penetrate these well-organized gangs and infiltrate their domain.
The quickest way to approach this problem is by encouraging each Guyanese to report all suspicious activities and person. If you see something, say something. By not saying anything and having knowledge of something, makes one a collaborator in a contributory way, indirectly, whether one likes it or not. Hopefully, all will realize the magnitude of the situation and will pledge to themselves to help eradicate this inflammable issue that Guyana wrestles with and Guyanese cannot rest with.

Respectfully,
Jai Lall