The road to Timehri

Dear Editor,
The disaster that occurred a few days ago on the road to Timehri, prompting His Excellency’s intervention, need not have happened.
I’m not gloating, but I have been mentioning the unacceptability of the delays in the completion of this essential corridor to and from the main airport of Guyana for more than a year to my comrades I “hang out” with.
I’ve commented on the absolute disregard for the five “C’s, ” resulting in bullies who have taken over the roads, creating severe traffic congestion, not only on this corridor but on all the major arteries, and again, not only in and out of Georgetown but in other heavily trafficked areas.
I’m hoping that bringing a halt to this unacceptable behavior, which may be better described as madness, would not require another presidential intervention. I’ve always been one to commend the traffic chief and his ranks for doing a good job, taking into consideration the phenomenal increase in motor vehicles in the country.
However, like all situations, more can be done. I’m convinced that the “mini bus and hire cars” culture has been taken over by the operation of “private hire cars” (PH) in the country. These vehicles operate with impunity and are apparently above the law since I’ve seen them operating even outside police stations. Someone told me that no action is taken against them, as many are owned by members of the police force, some stationed in the stations they operate outside of.
But these PH vehicles also ply their trade at almost every other location where they have a ready clientele, outside hospitals, markets, and stores on Regent, Water, Camp, Robb streets, just to name a few.
These PH vehicles are “rented” to drivers who have to pay the owners a certain amount per day, so naturally, like the mini buses and trucks (another new phenomenon), they break almost every traffic law to make their payments plus something for themselves and their families.
My suggestion, which I’ve made in the past, is that the vehicles committing these blockages, as occurred in the recent East Bank situation, which prompted the President to summon the contractors and others, must be dealt with condignly.
Drivers committing these breaches must have their vehicles impounded for three to five days in the first instance, with increased duration for frequency of infractions. Unless and until something drastic is done, His Excellency would have to have many more meetings to remedy the unacceptable situation/behavior being allowed to take over our roads. I hadn’t intended to be verbose, but permit me to just mention that when it seemed that the motorbike menace was being brought under control.

Sincerely,
Harry Nawbatt