With Guyana already recording over 100 deaths on the country’s roadways so far for the year, the National Road Safety Council is teaming up with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Guyana Police Force along with the Impressions company, to launch a nationwide campaign to “Stop the Tears”.

This morning at the Kitty roundabout, officials of the various organisations unveiled the “no more tears” billboard, which they hope will cause drivers and other road users to stop and think more about safety on the roadways.

Co-ordinator of the National Road Safety Council, Ramona Doorgen told the launching this morning that with over one hundred lives lost on the country’s roadways, all efforts are needed to tackle the carnage on the roadways.

“101 is unacceptable, we cannot accept 101 deaths on our roadways. So we have partnered with Impressions, PAHO/WHO, the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department and the Ministry of Public Security and all the other partner Ministries…we are partnering with them to launch the campaign. We need to stop the tears. Road safety has become dormant. People are not taking interest”, she said.

The PAHO/WHO Health Systems and Services Advisor in Guyana, Dr. Paul Edwards, said the international organisation is happy to be part of the project.

He reminded that road accidents remain one of the leading causes of deaths in Guyana. It is the number one cause of death among young children and the number two cause of death among young adults.

Dr. Edwards said “it is very important for us to outline today that individuals who die or are injured to road traffic accidents often come from the poorer segments of our society. For them, the loss of the family breadwinner, the cost of a funeral or hospital care, and rehabilitation, can push entire families beyond the poverty line for several generations. The large numbers of deaths and injuries in these vulnerable groups, join the persistent problem of infectious diseases and the steady rise of chronic diseases to give many developing countries, like Guyana, a triple burden”.

Deputy Traffic Chief, Superintendent Dennis Stephens, said the Guyana Police Force is pleased with the campaign and happy to play a role in bringing about more awareness and a change to the culture on the roadways.  He said there are way too many deaths on the country’s roadways

Representative from the Impressions Advertising Company, which is producing the Billboards, said her company is pleased to support the initiative.

The treasurer of the Road Safety Council Shahab Hack, said he wants to see other private sector agencies on board the initiative to place the billboards all across Guyana.

In addition to the billboards, hundreds of bumper stickers have been produced to be distributed to drivers, to raise their awareness on road safety and to remind others that it is time to “stop the tears’.

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