Police share some responsibility for deadly Moblissa accident

Last Updated on Monday, 31 October 2016, 15:35 by Denis Chabrol

The Guyana Police Force is sharing some blame for last week’s road accident on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway that resulted in the death of a woman and a passenger in a Mahdia bus that was heading to Georgetown.

Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine said the police force was unable to patrol the highway last Friday night (October 28, 2016) because of other pressing demands. “I must admit. There was an error made; an error made in terms of much needed enforcement by us, the Guyana Police Force.

There is an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) regarding the use of lorries transporting logs at certain times on the highway. There was a lapse;  so unfortunate because that is being enforced all the time. There were some other duties which took the police away from that general area and that is what happened,” the acting top cop told a news conference.

Ramnarine’s position came against the background of concerns that have been raised by mini-bus drivers that police do nothing to prevent trucks from being parked on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway especially at nights without any reflectors or lights.

However, he said the minibus driver, known as Brother Peter, was also at fault. “It doesn’t take away the fact that the error in judgment of the driver of the minibus was really a huge one.”

The accident occurred at about 7:30 PM on Friday, October 28, 2016 at Moblissa Highway which resulted in the deaths of Bridgette Alleyne 57 years, of Goed Fortuin WBD, and an unidentified male.

Police said motor lorry GMM  6461 transporting logs, was proceeding in a western direction and Mini Bus BVV 3782 with three occupants inclusive of the driver who is the husband of Bridgette Alleyne, was proceeding in the said direction behind the lorry when it allegedly crashed into the rear of the lorry.