Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre has appealed to Saint Lucians to exercise more caution on the roads, as he expressed concern about the strain vehicular accidents are placing on the island’s emergency services.
Speaking during a pre-Cabinet media briefing on Monday, he also called on the media to assist in promoting road safety.
“Our main problem seems to be emergency care to deal with what is called the emergency services…and once again I want to beg the public to drive with more care and attention,” Pierre pleaded during a pre-Cabinet media briefing on Monday.
“Half of these accidents, to my mind, would have been if not [avoided], the damage would have been reduced, if people drove slower. If they drove with more care and attention, these accidents would have been reduced. We have to exercise responsibility; get back to the situation where there was a designated driver. We cannot drink alcohol and drive.”
Appealing directly to the media, Pierre urged collaboration in addressing road safety.
“I want you in the media to join the government…. If you do that, you are not being political, you join the government in saving lives because you can be just on the streets driving and a drunken driver damages, your car and injures yourself or your relatives.
“So I want you to join us in telling people to be more responsible on the roads. It’s a plea that I’m calling out to you, to be more responsible on the roads. We cannot continue with this recklessness,” Pierre urged.
The prime minister noted that the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has increased road surveillance this year, but he stressed that personal accountability was important.
On the subject of emergency services, Pierre indicated that plans are underway for improvements, although he did not provide specific details.
“We want to enter into a new form of collaboration with the private health providers because we want to have a situation where everyone is on board as far as health is concerned. You will be hearing a lot more about it in the coming days,” he said.
Dear Mr PM, you do realize that when you make “”appeals” that there is a considerable section of the public who simply do not care about the appeals. These are people who will continue to drive fast and recklessly thus endangering the lives of others and themselves as well. Not to mention driving under the influence of substances like alcohol and drugs. As PM of the nation, we expect that not only that you make appeals to the public BUT PLACE STERN MEASURES on those who drive over the speed limit and those who drive recklessly. How about police start issuing tickets for reckless driving (as they do in 1st world countries like the US and UK ) which would be computerized so that people cannot just take the ticket and later tear it up. That cud make Govt some revenur as well, as St.Lucis does have a considerable number of reckless drivers on our roads.
But you found the remedy. Man stop expecting Lucian’s to do the right thing. That ship sailed a long time ago. Continue with the numbers of police on the road and you will have less road accidents. Think about it , look at all the traffic and recklessness that was happening on a morning. Since biker gang role up , it’s like vehicles do a disappearing act to the point where there is no traffic. This population cannot be trusted to right thing , Lucian’s need a whip in their ***….. don’t stop this initiative. Am sure communication and works must seeing record number of people coming to pay license renewal and registration. I see bikers getting rear ended but you what there some bikers (the scooters) flying through traffic hazards on like they are emergency vehicles. We tolerate to much ** in this country…….
Begging criminals to stop crime. Begging kids to behave. Begging reckless drivers to drive safe. What about ENFORCEMENT? How spineless are these authorities.
LOVE YOU PIERRE ❤️
ACTIONS!!
Not words Mr PM!!
ACTIONS!!
Give the Police, Insurance companies, and the Justice system the REAL TOOLS to enforce the laws – which are there to protect and serve.
STOP TALKING and ENFORCE THE LAWS!! With stiffer fines and jail time.
St Lucian Joe Public are fed up of your lip service!