Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh has emphasized the urgent need for stricter enforcement against vehicle owners who allow their animals to roam freely on public roadways, following a fatal accident on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Sunday night.
Singh highlighted that unattended animals often occupy main thoroughfares, posing serious hazards for drivers. “These are hazards, and enforcement might be the only way to curb the practice of owners who leave these animals unattended,” he stated during Monday’s ‘Jump Start’ segment on HJ 94.1 FM.
Referring to the recent tragedy, Singh noted that the accident could have been avoided. Reports indicate that the incident occurred in an undeclared roadway still under construction, where vehicular traffic should not be present. “There ought not to be any vehicular traffic in or on that area,” he revealed.
Singh further explained that effective enforcement requires adequate resources, including safe vehicles for transporting animals taken into police custody. He stressed the importance of keeping impounded animals at designated locations and releasing them to their owners only after fines are paid. In appropriate cases, legal prosecution should follow to ensure accountability.
This call for action comes in the wake of a fatal accident that claimed the life of 32-year-old Mathana Cambridge from Ann’s Grove. Police reported that Cambridge died around 9:00 PM after swerving to avoid a herd of cows along the Greenfield Railway Embankment. She lost control of her vehicle, collided with a concrete light pole, and ultimately ended up in a nearby trench.
A 27-year-old female teacher, also from Ann’s Grove, sustained minor injuries in the accident and is currently under observation.
Authorities are taking these incidents seriously, with hopes that increased enforcement will prevent further tragedies on the roads.
