Finally Ramjattan doing something right, however he is concentrating on the soft targets; vehicle owners, rather than the hard core criminals that are killing and robbing people.
Over 3100 traffic violations caught on CCTV
… all city streets to get cameras – Minister Ramjattan
Close to 99 per cent of over 3100 traffic violators facing prosecution by the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan addressing the launch of road safety month at the ACICC
are violations caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. This is according to Public Security Minister and Third Vice President, Khemraj Ramjattan.
Addressing the launch of road safety month at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, on Wednesday, Minister Ramjattan assured that the Ministry has been doing its best to ensure there is a reduction of these violations.
In this light, he revealed that the Ministry early this year commenced a new development, whereby the CCTV cameras around the city are being used to catch those committing traffic crimes.
According to Minister Ramjattan, to date, these cameras have captured over 3100 offences. He said that almost 99 per cent of these violators have pleaded guilty and are before the courts. “They are pleading guilty because they cannot get away from the fact that it is them on the cameras,” he said.
Road fatalities, however, remain high, the Minister noted, pointing out that this is because the CCTVs are only located in some streets in Georgetown. He noted that in light of this, the Ministry, as part of its long-term effort, will install CCTV cameras in all city streets.
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility
During his short speech, the Minister also lauded the effort of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) for pushing the agenda of road safety in Guyana. He noted that while the NRSC will do its parts with support from central government, road safety is everyone’s responsibility. He pointed out that to a large extent, the damage and the destruction that is caused by road accidents are as a result of that deficiency in individual responsibility.
“We are the sole cause of the road accidents around us and we have to be the cure of that disease,” he said.
The Public Security Minister noted that this responsibility has to be cultivated from a young age, and that the Education Ministry has a prime role to play in this regard.