By Binta Jaiteh
Some Parliamentarians at the National Assembly yesterday raised concern over the upsurge of road accidents across the country. Their reaction was a follow-up to the concern raised by National Assembly member of Badibou Central, HonourableSulayman Saho over the sharp increase of fatal accidents in the country.
During a matter of the day at the National Assembly, he raised a point on the high rate of accidents which is causing more deaths and injuries concerning Standing Order 51.
“Our country is witnessing more deaths and serious injuries due to accidents on our highways, more so Trans-Gambia Highway (South Bank Road),” Honourable Saho stated.
According to Health Minister, Honourable Momodou LaminSamateh, Gambia happens to have a higher rate of deaths due to accidents and injuries than many other countries even in the developed world. This he mentioned during the validation meeting of the National Trauma and Injury plan held at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Center on 27% February 2023, Honourable Saho asserted
He went further to highlight that nobody is immune to trauma and injury and also outlined some key statistics on injuries and accidents. For five years in 2017, about 5000 trauma cases were reported every year and increase to 9000 in 2021 which is almost twice as much as previous years.
He urged the IGP, Ministry of Health, and National Road Authority to conduct an emergency meeting to address this national crisis which is consuming.
During the debate on the matter, the Lawmaker for Busumbala, Honourable Muhammed Kanteh said Gambia has a long history of road traffic problems.
However, he said the statistics obtained from the Gambia Police Force from 2011 to 2021, the country registered almost 121 deaths annually due to road accidents. All this is causing havoc in society.
Honourable Kanteh said drivers under the influence of alcohol should be checked adding that some will even be driving while on the phone. “We need to address the issue as soon as possible to save more lives,” he lamented.
“We should come up with resolutions to make sure that the authorities concerned wake up to save the lives and properties of the Gambians” Kombo East Lawmaker stated
The lawmaker, Honourable Abdou Sowe explained that one cannot make money at the expense of the lives of the people that is not fair. He urged the police to take up the responsibility.
He said police should find out why are people not respecting traffic their attitudes must be revisited. The laws should be checked to make sure that the lives of the people are protected.
Banjul South parliamentarian, Honourable Fatoumatta Njie also said this issue came at a relevant time considering the new road along the Bertil Herding Highway.
She asserted that, since the opening of the road an increased rate of deadly accidents has been happening.
“We should come up with recommendations to have more street lights because the new street lights installed are deemed,” she noted.
The Brikama South NAM, Honourable Lamin J Sanneh also joined in the debate as he recommended that the National Assembly come up with resolutions as soon as possible so that the issue can be addressed.
Honourable Sanneh demonstrated lots of indiscipline and that can only be changed if good laws are set to be implemented.
Member for Lower Saloum, Honourable Sainey Jawara said the matter is very crucial and is a concern to every patriotic citizen. The Road Traffic Act was passed in 1947 and it was amended 15 times. The word lackadaisical should be used on the lawmakers because we make the policies.
The police officer is there to use a document that was passed through parliament and that law was made by assembly adding that there are a lot of factors responsible for the fatal accidents among them is the issuance of license wrongly, he expressed.