Dear Editor,
I refuse to pay any attention to anything that leaders of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) are saying. They were enraged with the late 2013 crime spree, yet they were the ones who adamantly opposed the firearms amendment bill.
This piece of legislation brought forward by the government was all about implementing tougher penalties for gunrunners. It was tabled by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, but was not supported by the opposition because of a personal vendetta against the minister.
It appears as if the opposition parties are continuously trying to find opportunities to lay blame on the ruling party. This time, they are inciting that the recent accident that killed Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson was due to the lack of attention placed on the state of lawlessness on the roadways.
In any country, it would be grossly unfair to say that the leaders of that country are to be held directly accountable for all inconveniences being caused.
In fact, Guyana has hosted several road safety campaigns over the years and was at one point criticised for being so strict. There have been campaigns against drunk driving; there has been a significant increase in police presence on the roads and there has been awareness pertaining to the consequences for drivers who continuously breach traffic regulations.
It is always bothersome to understand why people choose to fabricate stories. The car which caused the accident was actually not evading police ranks, however, the driver is currently facing multiple charges and with time, justice will be served.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) stepped up and discredited the numerous claims and accusations that were being made. I commend the force for their good work, but we must keep in mind that it is not easy to grab hold of the many road rebels.
It therefore means that instead of criticising, people should be more willing to help out by informing the relevant authorities of those guilty of traffic misconduct.
Sincerely,
Elton Myers