ELEUTHERA, Bahamas — Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Hope Strachan travelled to the island of Eleuthera, Friday, May 10, to show the Ministry’s support to stakeholders who have partnered together to promote a road safety campaign in Eleuthera. Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs and MP for Central and South Eleuthera the Hon. Damien Gomez also showed his support, as the group tries to get citizens on the island to obey traffic laws by not drinking and driving and/or speeding. The stakeholders include officials from the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Education, the Police Force, Rotary Club and One Eleuthera Foundation. One Eleuthera brings together people, resources, and expertise to develop opportunities for all Eleutherans to prosper.
Minister Strachan said that up to May 10, the statistics she had available showed the number of traffic fatalities stood at 26, with nine of those on New Providence, five in Grand Bahama, one in Andros, two in Abaco, two in Exuma and seven on Eleuthera. “We see, based on those figures, that Eleuthera is just two behind New Providence and the difference in the population is huge,” she said. “So per capita, Eleuthera is actually ahead of New Providence in terms in the amount of fatalities and that is extremely significant.”
Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Hope Strachan talks with students from Governor’s Harbour and Emma Cooper Primary Schools about what to do if they see a person driving recklessly. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)
Minister Strachan added, “It is also why the Ministry has determined that we have to bring focus to bear on the island of Eleuthera in terms of trying to see how we can ameliorate what is fast becoming a health crisis.” She explained that it becomes a health issue because not only do many persons involved in traffic accidents suffer injuries to their bodies but they also suffer mental issues. These issues also extend to family members and survivors as they constantly re-live the trauma of an accident. “Generally we know for the whole community at large there is usually a physiological issue for everyone involved. “So things like just driving along a road after an accident and being able to point to the spot where that accident occurred, is something significant and it stays with you.”
Minister Strachan said the Ministry of Transport and Aviation will work with the Ministry of Works and Urban Development to help improve the infrastructure on the island. She noted that the Ministry also launched through the Department of Road Traffic a Facebook page called National Road Safety Committee Bahamas. The Committee which is spearheading the website is charged with implementing policies and changes in road traffic matters.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Hope Strachan visits Central Eleuthera High School to talk with the students about safe driving practices and to highlight the Road Safety Campaign. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)
“The aim and object is to prevent as many fatalities as possible and decrease the amount of catastrophic injuries being suffered as a result of road traffic accidents.” She urged the partners in Eleuthera to become active participants on the site, and also promised that the Ministry will continue its support of the stakeholders in getting drivers to be more responsible on the streets. “We want to continue this effort not only because of the increase in traffic fatalities, but we wish it to be a sustainable programme that could benefit the island of Eleuthera for a long time to come,” Minister Strachan said.
