Every road fatality leaves families shattered, communities broken

Minister Walrond speak at the launch

Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has reminded Guyanese that road safety must be treated as a matter of life, not merely a matter of law, noting that every road fatality leaves families devastated and communities in mourning.

She made the remarks during the official launch of National Road Safety Month on Friday at the Bush Lot Community Centre Ground in Region Five, held under the theme “Safe Driving Saves Lives.” According to the Minister, the issue goes far beyond enforcement alone.

“Behind every road fatality is a family left shattered, a child without a parent, and a community robbed of potential. Road safety is a public health issue, an economic issue, and most importantly, a human issue,” she stated.

Minister Walrond highlighted the government’s ongoing initiatives through the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force, including the Safety City Project, the expansion of CCTV surveillance systems, and digital traffic monitoring, all aimed at improving safety and accountability on the roads.

The launch brought together government ministers, police officials, students, and community representatives, uniting participants in a call for a shift in Guyana’s road culture.

Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Earl Albert, emphasised that the country continues to lose too many lives due to reckless driving and disregard for traffic laws.

Building on this point, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, in his address to the gathering, stressed that road safety must be practised daily and not observed only once a year.

“Many of our young people — every day you open the newspapers in Guyana — we are losing many of our young people on the road recklessly,” he stated.

The launch of National Road Safety Month is a national call to action, urging all road users to adopt safer driving habits and help save lives.