Rock Gutter tragedy was always in the making

Tue, Jan 20, 2015

Editor: It is with great sadness that I learned of the truly tragic accident at Owia/Fancy which claimed the lives of so many innocent persons, including young schoolchildren.{{more}}

My heartfelt condolences go out to the parents, relatives and friends of the deceased and indeed to the entire population of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at this time of grief and sorrow.

It is clear to any well-wisher that resolute action must be taken by the authorities if a recurrence of this tragedy is to be avoided — a tragedy which, I must say with regret, was always in the making, given, inter alia:

(1) the topography of Saint Vincent with its winding and narrow roads and steep precipices;

(2) the relatively low standard of road surfaces;

(3) the generally observed culture of undisciplined behaviour among drivers;

(4) the apparent failure to control, with much resolve, speed limits and to impose and to penalize infractions of road traffic regulations;

(5 ) moreover, in light of items (1) – (4), the overloading of vehicles of all types, especially passenger vehicles.

One may also enquire whether there is any machinery in place for regularly determining the roadworthiness of motor vehicles.

What the above signals is the need for the authorities to take resolute action immediately, a first step, being the appointment of a committee of properly qualified persons, to review with urgency, the whole spectrum of road traffic in the country and to come up with implementable recommendations.

Errol OC Cupid

Trincity, Tacarigua, Trinidad