BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ROAD safety efforts got a boost earlier this week when the local FedEx branch donated 10 reflective vests to wardens of the St. Kitts Traffic Department.
FedEx Manager Jason Browne handed over the vests at the department’s headquarters in St. Johnston Village on Monday, June 7.
He indicated that FedEx is a company that cares about road safety, and upon noticing that a number of traffic wardens performed their duties without safety vests, it was compelled to improve the situation.
Browne noted that although the company had been affected by the global economic crisis, financial constraints would not prevent it from fulfilling its social responsibility obligations.
In accepting the donation, Traffic Head Inspector Cromwell Henry thanked FedEx for their “keen interest” in road safety and their timely contribution of the vests, which he said would definitely improve the visibility of traffic wardens at school crossings.
“Lots of motorists complain that they don’t see the wardens when they are directing traffic. There was an accident about two years ago where a warden was knocked down while on duty, but the driver said he had not seen her,” Henry said.
“Many traffic wardens work at night or other events so the donation is even more effective,” he added.
Henry revealed that there are currently 45 traffic wardens on the department’s payroll, and said FedEx’s donation would complement its existing stock of reflective vests.
The Inspector encouraged others to do their part to improve road security and praised Browne for observing a problem and taking steps to correct it.
“The department normally receives good support from corporations and citizens. A lot of our road paint comes from donations. Island Auto Supplies has donated traffic cones and measuring tape, and just recently the rotary Club of Liamuiga gave us 20 reflectors.
“[Those] will be mounted on curved walls so they are more visible to motorists. It will help them to better navigate around corners at night,” he disclosed.
