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guyanatimesgy.com
MonDAY, December 23, 2013
Neighbourhood Drunk drivers on B Division Serving her community police officer alleges traffic department’s radar through poetry, drama police harassment
B Division Traffic Chief Calvin Brutus By Shiran Ramnauth
W Vanita Adridge
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neighbourhood police officer in B Division is at her wits’ end and believes that her cry for justice has fallen on deaf ears. Vanita Adridge said she has been a neighbourhood police officer for more than seven years, and while she has faced many challenges, nothing compares to the physical and psychological abuse she faces daily at the Central Police Station. The woman, who lives alone, said the problem began three months ago, on September 13, when she arrived at work. “When I got to work, I met two corporals (names given), the one was mopping the floor. So I walked in to get the book to sign in my time.” Adridge claimed that this seemed to have infuriated the corporals who began using foul language and physically assaulted her, breaking her spectacles and wristwatch in the process. She alleged they continued to use threatening language, telling her that she would be placed under close arrest. When she queried the reason for this, she was greeted with further abuse.
Torment
Since then, Adridge has filed complaints against the corporals and their colleagues, who make it their duty to torment her. A worried Adridge told this publication that she is a simple woman and has very few friends at her workplace, noting that nothing has come out of her numerous complaints. She alleged that another colleague was in the habit of hiding the time book every time she approached to sign. Asked what might be the reason for these incidents of abuse, the visibly concerned woman said she did not know. She explained that the book was hidden again on December 17, and this caused her to be served with a Breach of Discipline Form. “I was supposed to do beat duties on the road between 08:00 and 14:00h. I went in to sign, but the book was not there, but I went out, the police van even passed and saw me there and the station sergeant [still] served me this notice and told me to sign.” Adridge said she refused to sign the document and was again threatened, this time by the station sergeant. “He told me that if I do not sign it, I would be placed under close arrest and so I signed it.” The neighbourhood policewoman said she made another attempt to raise her concerns with the top brass in Berbice on Wednesday, this time with B Division Deputy Commander Steven Mansell. Mansell, when contacted by this newspaper, said he was unaware of the situation. He also said that he was not going to divulge any information. He later contacted this publication saying that an investigation would be launched into the issue.
ary of the increase in alcohol consumption around this time of the year and the resultant flouting of traffic laws, the Berbice traffic department has implemented measures to arrest drunk drivers, thus ensuring an accident-free Christmas in the county. This is according to the Officer in Charge of the traffic department, Calvin Brutus. He explained to Berbice Times that owing to the influx of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, during this festive season, the traffic department has stepped up its campaign, with specific emphasis being placed on Christmas Eve when the main issue is traffic congestion.
Christmas Eve
“We know Christmas Eve is a big thing throughout the country; Rose Hall Town usually gets an orgy that left the place very dirty with broken bottles and debris scattered all over the place,” he said, pointing out that the traffic department will be monitoring the situation there as well as in the town of New Amsterdam. He noted too that the same situation usually occurs in the Corriverton area during the Old Year’s Night celebrations to welcome the new year. “We will monitor all these and will continue to monitor people after they would have left the roadways, joints, bars or other activities to get home safely and so they don’t exceed the speed limit and drive while under the influence,” Brutus said. Brutus has also appealed to drivers and pedestrians to use the roadways with care, caution and consideration and to be extra focused. He cautioned errant drivers to desist from lawlessness: “We will be out there looking for anyone who would want to break the law,” while assur-
ing that perpetrators will face the full force of the law. “There is still a number of days remaining for the year to conclude and we are hoping that nothing happens, as anything can happen in a second and we don’t want any negative to happen,” he said, as he took the opportunity to wish all Berbicians a happy holiday. The main causes of accidents in the region are drunk driving and speeding. Brutus said the department is making tremendous progress with respect to curbing driving under the influence. He explained that a large number of cases have been made throughout the division against drivers, as a result of stringent measures being implemented by the traffic officers. Brutus told this publication that cases of speeding have doubled over the year. Additionally, he said drivers’ inattentiveness was another major challenge for the department and this was manifested in various ways, especially drivers speaking on their cellphone or attempting to change CDs or DVDs while driving. There has also been an increase in cases of persons not wearing a seat belt while driving. “We are also faced with the challenges of inadequate parking facilities, derelicts lying on the roadways, building and waste materials, mud left by farmers using tractors in the rice fields… these are all issues.”
Tired drivers
Brutus also cautioned against persons riding on/in the trays of vehicles, noting that this has resulted in the deaths of at least two persons recently, one being a porter and the other a deejay. “One factor that is very difficult for us to deal with and control as policemen is the issue of fatigue,” he further said in concluding the list of top causes of accidents. Brutus disclosed that there have been a number of fatal accidents because of this mistake, while some resulted in the loss of limbs. He advised drivers experiencing tiredness to stop their vehicles and take half of an hour rest at a convenient place or even at the side of the road or possibly get a driver to assist.” Studies have shown that fatigue is a serious cause for concern while driving,” he said.
– Stephanie Bowry calls on youths to read more
Stephanie Felicia Bowry
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tephanie Felicia Bowry is no stranger to the art and entertainment sectors in Berbice. Her messages of love, triumph, social injustice, and family have reached many far-flung areas in Guyana. As a child, she was an ardent lover of reading and poetry, a trait she inherited from her mother, who, although she was a domestic worker and had a family to care for, found time to read. Her interest intensified and as she entered womanhood, she began writing. Her main focus earlier was on poems. Those poems were brought to life when she began performing at many events across Guyana. “Ms Bowry”, as she is popularly known in Berbice, noted that she wrote poems to suit any event. She has published three books of poetry. Apart from reading, she was also very enthusiastic about the fascinating folklore told to her by her grandparents. She wanted to share these with others and so she again began writing. In 2011, she completed her first book of short stories. The public received this with much excitement. Owing to this, she went on to publish a second book. Ms Bowry confirmed that many schools in Guyana are using her work. She is in the process of compiling another series of short stories and this should be released in the upcoming year. The great grandmother bemoans the current reading situation in Berbice and to wider extent, Guyana. She said after retiring from the New Amsterdam Town Council in 2001, she began working along with some schools and the National Library. She is upset that English Literature is not a compulsory subject in many schools. It should be, she said, since children are generally losing their grip on effective reading. “If the child does not learn to read or develop an appreciation for reading, learning will be more difficult. You have to read in order to learn and express yourself and if we are not careful very soon, the children will not know how to spell.” This, she noted, is as result of the advent of the Internet and the many social networks. She said that she is not complaining, she just envies the role of the Internet is playing in shaping the minds of the youth. “The kind of spelling that goes on over the Internet, the short hand and even when you are typing with the computer, if you spell a word wrong, it corrects it. So a person wouldn’t find it necessary to learn to spell.” Ms Bowry pointed out that no matter how interesting a story is on television, a child would never be able to express himself effectively unless he reads. She is encouraging parents to work along with teachers, since, while the school has a mandate to educate their children, they themselves have that responsibility. Stephanie Bowry was born in Canefield, East Canje. Her family moved to New Amsterdam while she was a child and she has been living in the town ever since. She received numerous awards from many organisations, including the Women and Gender Equality Commission and the Rotary Club, for the numerous contributions she has made. (Alexis Rodney)