BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FORMER Minister of National Security G. A Dwyer Astaphan said many of the crimes the Federation experiences would be controlled if the problems with traffic are controlled.
Invited by SKNVibes to weigh in on former Commissioner Austin Williams’s suggestion that a 24-hour Traffic Patrol Unit be created within the Federation, Astaphan said there is need for such unit now more than ever.
“I’ve always said this… Traffic needs to be brought under control and if you control traffic you are going to control a lot of the crimes in the country. You need radars, you need breathalyzers – which we were trying to do all of those things. You need traffic patrols night and day…if you have to use drones for occasional monitoring of the roads day and night, use them.”
Astaphan – who was National Security Minister from October 2004 to July 2008 - suggested that motorists are driving irresponsibly which poses a threat to life and property.
“People are driving terribly…and some of them show that they do not deserve to drive simply because they are threat to life and property on the road. Their license should be taken away for a while…
“I don’t know how that (William’s suggestion) would break down in terms of organising it but, I have always been an advocate for greater vigilance and proactiveness in traffic, always. And even more so today. You see people stopping in the middle of the road and stepping inside a restaurant to get something. People are parking their vehicles on a driving lane, buses and so on, to take on passengers and let them off, rather than going off the driving lane….
“So who is teaching these people to drive and who is enforcing the traffic rules and the courtesies of the road? So Austin Williams has a point in that you need greater attention to traffic.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police Hilroy Brandy was asked by this publication about whether or not the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force would be considering implementing a 24-hour Traffic Patrol Unit. He indicated that that could be considered after the upcoming recruitment training is completed.
“There is currently a 24 hour patrol unit but it focusses more on crime rather than traffic. Presently we are waiting to start a training so once we complete that training and we have adequate resources, we will look at that suggestion.
