Open letter to the Minister of Works and Transport, the Commissioner of Police and the Transport Commissioner: I am aware of the onerous demands of your offices at this time. Nevertheless, I am pleading that you take remedial action in an effort to counter the human carnage on what I am referring to as the "Churchill-Roosevelt Killer Strip." In this regard I write as someone who has been resident in this area for over 40 years. The "killer strip" stretches from the Macoya intersection to the Piarco junction. Look at the large number of innocent lives which have been lost on this piece of roadway over the years. Recognise the number of street lamps and trees on the median which have been knocked away.
This is evidence of constant reckless and irresponsible driving by motorists who appear either not to be aware or care about the lethal nature of the weapon which they are committed to command. It is possible that there may be no other area in this country which has recorded a larger number of road deaths per kilometre than the "killer strip." It is an unofficial graveyard with hundreds of mourners. It is my view, therefore, that the most urgent, drastic, remedial action is required and I am therefore suggesting that a somewhat permanent police presence be put in place there, to be followed shortly by the installation of surveillance cameras. In order to curb the lawlessness which is evident on the roads throughout the country generally, very strict penalties, not excluding terms of imprisonment, at least for some second offences, ought to be enacted and vigorously enforced with zero tolerance.
Relatively expensive higher median dividers will only encourage the existing somewhat endemic custom of disregarding traffic laws and converting roadways into tracks for motor-racing. There is urgent need for a walkover in the Oropune area in the vicinity of the Holiday Inn Hotel. It is heart-rending to see pedestrians, including schoolchildren, having to skip from one side of the highway to the other and having to wait on the median for a lull in the traffic, which seems never to be at hand. Are we courting a tragedy?
Errol OC Cupid
Trincity, Tacarigua