“Have some patience”, EBD traffic management is very difficult – Commander to commuters

Commander of Region Four ‘B’ (East Bank Demerara), Senior Superintendent Mahendra Siwnarine, is urging persons to exercise patience when travelling along the East Bank Demerara corridor, noting that traffic management along this corridor is very challenging.

“Traffic management on the East Bank corridor is very difficult,” the Commander said during this week’s “Police & You” programme.
He noted that traffic management is a collaborative effort between Region Four ‘A’ (Georgetown), Region Four ‘B’ (East Bank), and Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
“I can tell you that my ranks, they work very hard. They’re on that road from 5am, and they do not leave that road until that traffic is cleared. There is only so much they can do. We have implemented a number of strategies to actually assist persons that are traversing. The most I could beg of persons who are inconvenienced is to have patience,” the Commander stated.
He expressed hopes that with the new infrastructural projects being developed by the Government, traffic congestion would ease.
“We do know that a secondary road has been completed, and some minor works are being done currently, and we are hoping that it can assist a bit,” he said in making reference to the Diamond to Eccles bypass road, which would connect to the Eccles to Mandela highway, which is also under construction.
It is also hoped that, with a new bridge over the Demerara River, traffic congestion would be greatly reduced.
The Commander has also addressed the issue of the reckless behaviour of road users, especially on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
There have been several fatal accidents along that highway in recent weeks, and those have claimed the lives of five persons, including an eight-year-old girl.
On May 23, eight-year-old Akese Jerome, her grandmother Anthonia Henry and her aunt Melina Emmanuel were killed when a speeding motorcar driven by a fireman crashed into them as they were sitting at the curbside along the Kairuni Public Road on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
On June 6, newspaper vendor Mark Anthony Ault of Republic Drive, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD) tragically lost his life as he was driving a minibus along the highway, when a hire car which was proceeding in the opposition direction and was allegedly speeding ended up in the path of his bus.
On June 7, 48-year-old Kumar Persaud died after the bicycle he was riding collided with a pickup on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway in the vicinity of Loo Creek.
“The highway itself, at some points, have holes, bumps, and persons who (are) not familiar (with the terrain), especially in the night, often drive in a manner as if they’re driving on roads they’re familiar with, and they end up in those accidents,” the Commander said.
The Commander has urged pedestrians who are using the roads during dark hours to wear illuminating clothing. He is also encouraging all road users to exercise caution.
“I would urge road users, especially in the night, the highway has turns, bumps…you get some surprises when travelling on that highway in the night. It’s for you to be cautious. Take your time, you’re in no rush to get anywhere. At the end of the day, you’re saving your life, the lives of persons in your vehicle, and the lives of the person that would be traversing at that time,” the Commander has said.