The Guyana Police Force in collaboration with the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), enforce road safety across the country. On Tuesday, Unicomer Group joined these efforts by gifting 20 helmets and an AKT motorcycle to the cause.
The company’s Director of Merchandising and Marketing Eldri Ferguson-Mackey, during the handing over ceremony at Courts, Main Street, Georgetown, said: “We are putting our money where our mouth is and we are going to stand with the police… because we are serious about safety and we are really committed to making these streets safer,” Ferguson-Mackey said.
The motorcycle is valued at $400,000 and the helmets amount to $280,000, an overall contribution amounting to $680,000.
Unicomer’s AKT brand promotes safety with each purchase of the motorcycles which must be fit for road use, insured and comes with a helmet on purchase. To further ensure consumers are following road rules, Ferguson- Mackey committed that the company will incorporate means of getting a second helmet to buyers at a cheaper cost.
Traffic Chief, Mahendra Singh highlighted that road safety should be a concern for all citizens. He said more road cops are on the roadways each day because there is a need for more compliance by road users.
Emphasizing the need for helmets, he said the severity of injuries obtained during accidents can be significantly decreased if persons wear safety helmets.
“Were our people more compliant with the rules of the road and its use and subsequent caring for other road users, we may not have had that presence which is on the road,” Singh said.
According to data received from the Georgetown Public Hospital, majority of the cases at the hospital are accidents involving motorcyclists. At this time, the police is conducting several outreaches and distributing helmets to motorcyclists.
Meanwhile Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn said corporate response to issues within society and supporting the government with remedies is important.
“It will kick off our issuance again of free helmets, it will encourage our police who I know feel disrespected every day when they see the young people going past them, knowing that they are at risk, knowing that the EMT might have to come and collect them.
“There is much work for us to do with the Guyana Police Force together with the corporate sponsors…this indeed sends a message to corporate sponsors that they have a vested interest in resect of the overall development issue,” the minister said.
He said partnerships that lead to solutions like Unicomer’s contributions aid in building a safe society for all Guyanese.
It would be great if Speed Limit signs and Marked Pedestrians Crossing could be placed at regular intervals along the roads.