For years, one organisation in particular, along with several citizens, many defined as “prominent,” have been hollering for the introduction of speed guns as a panacea to deal with the carnage on the nation’s roadways. We were told over and again that “speed kills.” Finally, a few weeks ago, after much pomp and PR, the T&T Police Service (TTPS) was provided with six speed guns, to service nine police divisions, in a nation with a population just above 1.3 million, with about as many vehicles. To their credit, however, they have managed to “catch 50 persons speeding” thus far. Typical TTPS; hard at work.
Suddenly, opinions are creeping out of the woodworks, recognising that the speed limit, which was largely being ignored by most, and the primary reason for the introduction of the speed guns in the first place, is the real problem. We are now being told that 80 km/ph in today’s world is too slow and is a major blow to “production” as identified and reiterated by the Ag, PM, and economics guru, Mr Colm Imbert. My question is: since when has production been a concern to the governors of this tiny nation?
My mind drifts as I consider the many hours citizens spend stuck in traffic, none of which has to do with the speed limit. We all have our own horror stories of being stuck in traffic for hours because of an accident, incident, or floods somewhere along our route. Of course, the hours are compounded when citizens await the arrival of the all-important DMO simply to pronounce a victim dead, before the body can be “safely removed” from the scene; a decision long arrived at by everyone else. Yet no one has ever considered altering these archaic laws to allow ambulance attendants to make the call. Strange but, production has never been a concern here.
Similarly, anyone ever having to conduct any transaction in the Licensing Office can speak with authority on the loss of production. Yet this dysfunctional institution continues to operate in mid-2016 as it has operated in the 1960s, with excuses being made in place of policies. People line up outside of this office from the wee hours of the morning, hoping they do not to have to return a second or third day to complete their transaction. This in part explains the “bobol,” where honest citizens are all too willing to “pass something” simply to avoid losing another day from work. Despite this recurring decimal, concerns over production has never been an issue at this institution, either. This, despite years of having been under the portfolio of our nation’s latest economic guru. One cannot help but wonder if Licensing Office has been mandated to operate within a speed limit. Almost forgot: they still close for lunch!
If memory serves me right, a former prime minister gave this nation three watchwords, one of which I believe, was “production.” It is indeed a sad day that half century after independence, after a couple oil booms, and while we continue to maintain one of the worst work ethics in the world, some fly-by-night, self-anointed, economic guru comes before us to lecture on issues of production.
Someone needs to tell our this Government that the election is over; they won. They have been mandated to run the country and stop making excuses for policies. No longer are you dealing with an illiterate population. If there is the need to change the speed limit, change it. Don’t urinate on the public and tell us it’s raining. We know the difference. It’s amazing how the line about “speed kills” has taken a back seat. So, save the sorry line about “production,” please, Mr Economist!
Rudy Chato Paul, Sr
Dabadie