FOUNDER of Mothers In Black, Ms. Denise Dias has indicated that the word 'accident' in a road context is not, in her view, accurate, since it suggests something over which nobody has any control.
"The fact is, 'accidents' do have a cause and someone is always at fault," Mrs. Dias posited.
According to her, road 'accidents' are "unnecessary and avoidable" and "it is quite within our power to prevent them". It is the duty of every road user to behave safely and responsibly and within the law at all times, she asserted yesterday while making brief remarks at a function organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to mark World Health Day. The occasion was celebrated under the theme 'Road Safety is No Accident'.
"Whilst I do not wish to dwell on grim statistics, it is important to know that since the beginning of this year alone, more than 40 people have died on our roads (while) numerous others have suffered injury (and) it is chilling to think that many more lives will be needlessly lost, and there will be a great deal more pain and suffering, as the year progresses," Dias contended.
She also stressed that many victims are in no way to blame for the incidents that end their lives but rather, "the innocent die along with those guilty of transgressions of the law and the rules of safety and common sense".
"Tragically, it is the most innocent of our society, our children under fifteen, who are the most vulnerable," she said while alluding to the fact that year after year they account for more than forty per cent of our pedestrian casualties.
Given these frightening statistics, Mrs. Dias indicated that Mothers in Black ask all concerned that 'Road Safety' be taken seriously, because not only is this an incredible tragedy in human terms, but also, it is extremely costly, particularly to our health care system.
"It is estimated that road accidents cost our country millions of dollars each year and to the society is unnecessary and preventable," she posited.
"Speaking on behalf of parents and the many mothers of 'Mothers In Black', if we had one wish, we would like our daughters and sons back on earth (but) we know that this is not possible, however, if we had another wish, we would not want any parent, family or friend to endure or experience the never ending pain and loss of losing one's child or loved one so unnecessarily on our roads," Dias told the gathering, which included PAHO/WHO Resident Representative to Guyana, Dr. Bernadette Theodore Gandi; Ms. Renee Franklin Peroune, Health Promotion Officer, PAHO, WHO in Guyana; Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manzoor Nadir; PNC/R Member of Parliament, Mr. Raphael Trotman; ROAR Leader and Member of Parliament, Mr. Ravi Dev; GAP-WPA Member of Parliament, Ms. Sheila Holder; Traffic Chief, Senior Supt. Michael Harlequin; Mr. Michael Brown, President of the Road Safety Association.
Health Minister Ramsammy reiterated the unenviable fact that Guyana is ranked fifth among countries in the Americas in terms of rates of traffic-related deaths. He said this frightening statistic ought to jar Guyanese out of their complacent approach to road usage.