Tain traffic campaign protest ends – Minister Persaud hears concerns of residents/sugar harvesters

Georgetown, GINA, November 07, 2007.

Residents and cane harvesters of Central Corentyne who demonstrated at Tain, Corentyne yesterday to protest against new traffic regulations today ended their protest action after intervention by government ministers
            Today, Minister of Agriculture and Parliamentary Representative of Region Six Robert Persaud met residents and cane harvesters to resolve the issue.
The Minister’s meeting follows earlier intervention by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee and Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who visited the Region yesterday to address the situation.
Operators and drivers of privately-owned public transportation staged the protest because of increases in traffic fines which is one of the measures being taken to deter motorist from breaching traffic laws. Also concerns were raised about the fare hike for school children.  
One of the main concerns, raised with Minister Persaud was protestors’ claim of excessive Police force on October 06 to remove the blockages on the highway.  Minister Persaud facilitated discussion among Commander of B Division and representatives of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) on the claims.
An injured GAWU representative was sent to the New Amsterdam Hospital for examination.
The residents and workers were further advised that there will not be increases in fares for school children as the Police will take necessary steps. The Minister in his meeting with concerned residents and workers at Tain and Albion cautioned against encouragement by known anti-government political elements to promote disorderly activities. They were told that their claims of excess police force will be conveyed to the Minister of Home Affairs.
Operations at the Albion Sugar Estate were affected as a result of the workers’ involvement in the protest. Those who were not at work on the estate were urged to return to work to ensure that the dry weather is maximally utilised for cutting and grinding of canes. This is important to ensuring that targets for sugar production are met especially at a time of EU price cuts and efforts to make the industry competitive.
Minister Persaud highlighted the need for the public to support the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Fore in their renewed campaign to make the roads safer. He, however, observed that ordinary residents and school children must not be held hostage or victimized by unscrupulous elements.
The ongoing traffic campaign is intended to enhance safety on the roadways by addressing some of the disorderliness existing in the public commercial transport system to reduce incidents of road accidents that often result in severe injuries and in some cases, deaths.
The implementation of the new set of traffic tickets is one aspect of the Police zero-tolerance in relation to traffic enforcement. The campaign which has resulted in a total of 1,254 cases made against defaulting drivers within the first five days has indicated that speeding and overloading are prevalent.
Some of the new measures that the Police are focusing on are speeding, boom-boom boxes in public and private transportation, breaches of traffic light signals, overloading, stopping within 30 feet of a corner, and stopping on no parking signs

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