Blood on your hands

On Good Friday I wrote the weekly article on the subject of Road Traffic accidents in Trinidad and Tobago and submitted it to the Editor of Business Day in good time to meet the publication deadline as I was going to be out of the country. Little did I know that I would once more be dealing with this same issue a week later as my own nephew lost his life tragically in an accident on Easter Sunday. Even as I write this article his wife and young daughter are fighting for their lives as they remain warded in a serious condition. Whenever we read of accidents where the driver lost control immediately there is a perception that excessive speed was involved and/or with more care and attention the accident could have been avoided. I owe my nephew a duty to clear the air and “let the truth be told.”

It was a freak accident and it could happen to anyone who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time  and could even be put down to one’s destiny! The circumstances of the accident as given by eyewitnesses who not only rendered assistance but also called the emergency services might well give rise to a case of “criminally negligent homicide.” The duraliner from the tray of a pick-up vehicle flew off and in an effort to avoid slamming into it as a normal reflex action, my nephew lost control and  ran off  the Solomon Hochoy Highway. The offending vehicle never stopped and went its merry way.

A life has been lost and life-threatening injuries sustained to a young child and mother. Surely, there is blood on the hands of the driver of the vehicle who has taken no responsibility and will have to live with that stain for the rest of his life. If the duraliner was dislodged during the journey then it could correctly be deemed an accident as it was not foreseen. But if it was known that there was a problem and no action was taken to repair it then the consequences of that inaction could be classified as criminal negligence. This kind of behaviour in Trinidad and Tobago is only too common as criminals commit the most heinous of crimes and walk free on technicalities. Accidents like these will never be the subject of proper investigation and the files closed maybe with the comment “driver lost control.”

It would be asking too much and expecting too much in a society like ours where people do not naturally take responsibility for their actions and do not own up. Rather, they prefer to find excuses and find justifications. We live in a society where individual rights seem to have priority over community rights where people believe mistakenly that they have rights under the Constitution to do what they want without the attendant consequences and seeking redress is really swimming against the tide. It is possible that we have not reached that state of development as we are still backward but it is amazing to compare the more developed countries where people know their rights and their responsibilities. Here in Trinidad and Tobago we know our rights but we don’t accept our responsibilities!

When you speak to Caribbean people who live in North America they would tell you that they have to shovel the snow from in front of their home for fear of leaving it unattended and some one falling and the subsequent consequences of a law suit. In Trinidad and Tobago, we simply have little or no regard for our fellow citizens when we put them in harm’s way by our actions or inactions. The tragic accident caused by a pedestrian attempting to cross the highway bears testimony to the kind of foolishness that takes place everyday. One only has to drive along the Cocorite stretch and appreciate the utter stupidity where persons would scale the wire fence on this busy road. It is both a shame and disgrace to see the state of the fence.

Some people may be prepared to risk their own lives but they also endanger the lives of motorists who may inadvertently lose control of their vehicles while trying to avoid hitting them. In desperate situations desperate measures must be applied and it would require draconian action like imprisonment and huge fines as a deterrent. However, it seems that we have thrown up our hands in despair but true leadership requires the taking of actions as unpopular as they might be if they would eventually redound to the benefit of the society as a whole. Could you imagine taking action like banning the importation of chewing gum into Trinidad and Tobago? Surely there would be some Constitutional motion about fundamental rights but chewing gum is banned in Singapore because it is seen as being destructive to public property since people dispose of it improperly.

You would now understand why Singapore is so far advanced than Trinidad and Tobago when we were on par 20 years ago. They have gone forward and we have stood still because we are caught up in trivia and things that are unimportant rather than trying to carve out a way that can lead to greater prosperity and a better quality of life. In many ways we have too much freedom and that has led to chaos and anarchy. It would be unimaginable to think about banning the drinking of alcohol on the street or open public places as is the case in Canada but that might just be what is required to curb drunk driving in Trinidad and Tobago. We keep talking about taking action but nothing happens in Trinidad and Tobago.

It is only talk and more talk — think about the points systems, the breathalyser, speed guns, photo radar — all we hear is that they are coming. What is required is action — any action — bad action is better than no action and that is the cause of our problems in Trinidad and Tobago. Things must be done — not doing. We are good at doing but we never get anything done! It is by taking action and showing seriousness and resolve to deal with problems that the message will begin to reach those who simply don’t care and have no sense of responsibility.

E-mail: daquing@cablenett.net