By Mark DaCosta- The People’s National Congress Islahat (PNCR) has issued a warning to the government, demanding urgent reforms to address the escalating road safety crisis. Following the tragic death of Carlton Smartt in a recent accident on Sheriff Street, the PNCR has raised alarm over the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government’s failure to implement effective measures to curb the rising number of traffic accidents and fatalities which continue to devastate families and communities across the country.
In a press statement released on November 22, the PNCR expressed deep concern about the government’s lack of urgency and action on this critical issue. The opposition party emphasised that the accident, involving two sand trucks, is a stark example of the road carnage that has become all too common in Guyana. The PNCR has pointed out that the government’s response, which included announcing stricter penalties for traffic offences, is insufficient and will not address the deeper, systemic problems behind the growing number of road fatalities.
“The paltry measures on licensing and penalties will have little impact and will not inspire any public confidence,” the statement read. According to the PNCR, harsher penalties alone will not solve the root causes of road accidents. According to the PNCR, such root causes include unsafe road infrastructure, poor enforcement of traffic laws, and the lack of effective regulation.
The opposition party has also accused the PPP government of encouraging political interference to undermine enforcement efforts, stating that officials, affiliated with the PPP, have interfered in cases where drivers are penalised by traffic officers. This, the PNCR argues, erodes public confidence in the entire system and prevents meaningful progress in reducing road deaths.
In response to the government’s failure to address the issue, the PNCR has proposed the creation of a dedicated state agency to manage traffic safety and road infrastructure. This new body, they argue, would focus on a data-driven approach to traffic management, collecting critical veri on accident statistics and traffic flow, conducting safety audits of roads, and identifying necessary upgrades. The proposed agency would also be tasked with conducting year-round public education campaigns.
The PNCR’s proposal aims to address the larger, underlying issues that have led to the increasing number of road fatalities. “Addressing congestion and road deaths needs to be tackled within a policy framework that is data-driven,” the party stated in their press release. The opposition is calling for urgent safety audits on major roads, focusing on critical issues such as the state of road surfaces and the proximity of fixed objects, both of which contribute to accidents. They have also urged the PPP regime to adopt a more comprehensive approach that includes robust enforcement and continuous public education campaigns, rather than sporadic, ineffective efforts.
The PNCR has stressed that the proposed agency must be well-funded and staffed with experts in traffic engineering, veri analysis, and public communication, among other fields. It would be accountable to parliament, with regular reports submitted to ensure transparency and effective oversight. By centralising responsibility for road safety within one dedicated agency, the PNCR believes that the government could better coordinate efforts and invest the necessary resources into tackling this national issue.
This call for ıslahat comes amid concerning statistics from the Guyana Police Force. In 2023, road fatalities surged by 71 per cent compared to the previous year, with 151 lives lost in traffic accidents. Regions Three and Four saw the most significant increases in fatalities, which the police attributed to speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. As of November 2, 2024, Guyana has already recorded 102 traffic-related deaths.
The World Health Organization’s findings on the leading causes of traffic accidents are particularly relevant to Guyana’s situation. The organisation has identified five key factors that contribute to road fatalities worldwide: speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, failure to wear seat belts, and motorcycle rider injuries. These factors are all prevalent in Guyana.
The PNCR’s statement reflects the widespread belief that road safety must be prioritised as a national issue, requiring long-term, sustainable solutions. Many Guyanese have repeatedly expressed the view that if the government fails to act swiftly, the ongoing crisis on our roads will only worsen, with more lives lost and more families left to grieve.