IT’S SAID “procrastination makes easy things hard, hard things harder”. Conversely, there’s the saying “a stitch in time saves nine” – not to mention lives and even the economy of our country.
Some time ago there was an upsurge of domestic violence. As far as I recall, a report was made to the police, but before action was taken, the complainant was killed. I seem to remember a discussion at that time about changing the laws which seem to “tie the hands of the police” in such cases. I also remember it being said that an office which closes on weekends wasn’t suited to responding to these matters, since immediate action is essential. Was anything done? I doubt it.
Over the years we’ve seen cases of mentally unstable persons wounding or even killing others, but I’ve always heard that the police can’t intervene before they have actually committed these crimes. If this is so, isn’t this a ridiculous situation requiring immediate change?
Then, of course, there’s the rule where a person can’t be considered missing before 24 hours has elapsed. But immediate action can mean the difference between life and death. I thought there was talk of changing this after the recent much publicised missing person incident, but I haven’t heard anything further.
Who can forget the recent unnatural death of the six-year-old boy which police are currently investigating? According to press reports, the Child Care Board acknowledged it received reports of injuries to the child and that its officers had been actively conducting investigations which were ongoing at the time of his death.
So, while the Child Care Board was “actively investigating” the child lost ahis life. Too little, too late. The modus operandi of the board obviously must change if it’s to truly protect children. Let’s hope this won’t be the usual “nine days wonder” and the authorities will move expeditiously (is that in their vocabulary?) to introduce a system that can respond with urgency to such issues.
On the matter of the recent death of a little boy involved in a vehicular accident at the entrance of “The Villages at Coverley”, some claim that the garden at this entrance is an obstruction and a danger to the travelling public. It’s also been claimed that it was to have been removed some time ago. Having driven by this at night, I agree it’s a potential danger, especially at night, since the street light in the garden wasn’t burning when I passed.
Regarding general highway lighting, complaints were reported recently about the 150 street lights not burning or damaged on the ABC highway and the lack of lighting on the Spring Garden Highway. Poor lighting combined with jersey barriers which become almost indistinguishable from the road at night is an accident waiting to happen. Why not replace the dim lighting with the type used on the new roundabout at Coral Ridge which increases visibility considerably, especially during rain.
Why do we let matters get out of hand before we correct them? How many serious accidents and how many deaths had to occur at the Lears and Boarded Hall junctions before roundabouts were built to correct the problem? Couldn’t this have been done earlier?
Then of course there are the varying rules at roundabouts. It beats me how visitors don’t have more accidents. In addition of course, there are the signs painted on the road, rather than on poles. Not to mention the places where there are no signs at all – like the new triangles near the “Al Barrak” building in Warrens where no one knows who has the right of way. Are these to be treated like a roundabout (or an oblongabout)? We need clear directions to avoid a serious accident or death. Similarly the area by the Observatory at Clapham.
We’ve seen what procrastination has done to our sugar industry. And of course to agriculture in general. How long have we talked about but not acted on praedial larceny and stray animals? Now the monkeys are out of control.
Our “golden egg” industry is now threatened by Sargassum seaweed, but if I’m not mistaken, the first time the minister mentioned it was a few weeks ago although it’s been increasing over the last three years or so. A topic for another time.
• Dr Frances Chandler is a former Independent senator. Email [email protected].
