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THAILAND: Medical emergency teams thwarted by dense Bangkok traffic

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:50:48 GMT

Saturday, November 22, 2008

BANGKOK Thursday, August 21, 2008 (IRIN) - The death rate of injured patients cared for and transported by Thailand’s hodge-podge of volunteer and hospital-owned emergency medical services and ambulances is high, particularly in Bangkok, according to safety authorities. Anucha Mokkhavesa, director-general of the Interior Ministry’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, told local newspapers the department’s Road Safety Centre (RSC) statistics showed 101,752 accidents occurred...

Source: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=79927

KYRGYZSTAN: Nuclear waste dumps threaten environment

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:49:33 GMT

Saturday, November 22, 2008

MAILUU-SUU Wednesday, September 10, 2008 (IRIN) - "I carry clean [drinking] water with my truck to the villages upstream almost on a daily basis. I was born here and I remember that in the past the road on this side of the river was closed to traffic. They say that was because of some mines and radioactive waste tailings," Bakyt told IRIN in Kairygach, about 10-15 minutes' drive from Mailuu-Suu. There are some signs warning about radioactivity - meaning there are waste dumps located not far...

Source: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=80271

Helping the police to help us

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:16:14 GMT

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Mr Malick Mendy is just an ordinary tailor who has turned himself into an extraordinary citizen by virtue of his patriotic act. He recently donated 500 hand gloves to the Gambia Police Force.

“I am a tailor. I donated 500 gloves to the police as my contribution. If another Gambian comes from a different profession and he or she also contributes his or her quota the thing will move smoothly,” Mr Mendy said.

As we can see, Mr Mendy is motivated by the urge to support the Gambia Police Force. He has no money to help them. But thinking hard and long about the traffic police he sees on the road every day, he decided to use his talent to contribute the improvement of the police. The result is some 500 hand gloves.

Believe it or not, the police are doing their best to combat crime in the country. Despite meagre resources, they strive day in, day out to make our society safe and free from crime and criminals. They do not have enough vehicles; they do not have enough communication gadgets; they do not have enough of most things they need to do their job more efficiently and effectively. The police would function much better if they got vehicles from individuals or organizations. They would do a lot more for our safety and security if they got support such as Mr Mendy’s from time to time.

As Mr Mendy has shown, no contribution is too small to make towards the effectiveness of the police. We suppose they can make do with uniform materials, shoes, and so on. Helping the police to work better is like helping ourselves in that they will work better for our safety and security.

“Helping The Security Services is Helping The Whole Nation” - Secy Sonko

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:32:12 GMT

Friday, September 12, 2008

The Honourable Secretary of State for Interior, Ousman Sonko, has said that helping security officers means you are helping the whole nation, because without them there would no peace or stability and nothing can be established in the absence of peace.

SOS Sonko was speaking at a presentation ceremony of 200 handcuffs and four Touch Lights by one Lamina Saidy a Gambian and his Jamaican counter-part Redelf Beranard as their contribution toward the national development. The ceremony was held recently at the Police Headquarters in Banjul.

Hon. Sonko asserted that his department’s delight with the donors, “cannot be over emphasised.”

He further stated that “the donated items will be very helpful most especially the handcuffs. They will make the policing work easier because without handcuff you can’t arrest any defaulters and control them to be brought to the police station.” Turning to the Touch Lights, Secy Sonko asserted that it would be very helpful most especially our traffic officers who are on the public highways for the good of the road user. He said the police is the oldest security agency in The Gambia, “but still we are yet to have our own website”. He therefore assured the donors of his department’s readiness to work with anybody when necessary. “Our doors are always opening for each and every one either directly or indirectly,” he concluded.

Author: By Bakary Samateh

Driver Granted Bail

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:00:48 GMT

Monday, September 01, 2008

The Brikama Magistrates’ Court presided over by Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh recently granted court bail to one Lamin Camara in the sum of D5000 with a Gambian surety.

Mr Camara is in court for traffic offences. It was alleged that the accused Lamin Camara on 16th August 2008 at Farato village drove a motor vehicle BJL9961D when the rear brake was not functioning. It was further alleged that on the same day, place and time the accused drove a motor vehicle BJL 9961D without due care and attention thereby causing an accident. He denied the charges.

Meanwhile the case, which was scheduled for hearing, could not proceed, as the prosecution witness was not in court. As a result, the case was adjourned until 15th September 2008.

Author: By Yai Dibba

Three Months for Traffic Offender

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:15:54 GMT

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The CRR travelling Magistrate, Amadou Baldeh, recently convicted and sentenced one Muhamed Jaffuneh to a fine of D500 in default to serve three months imprisonment.

Mr Muhamed Jaffuneh some time in the month of June this year at the Bansang check point, drove a commercial vehicle registration number BJL 5315A without valid documents.

In a similar development, one Modou Gaye of Bansang was also sentenced to a fine of D1500 in default to serve 12months imprisonment by the CRR travelling magistrate, Amadou Baldeh, for permitting one Alhagie Malick Secka to drive an 18-passenger motor vehicle registration number BJL 6081C without licence or valid documents.

Author: By Abdou Raham Sallah

GSM companies endorse Mottor Traffic Bill amendment

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:47:41 GMT

Monday, July 14, 2008

The three GSM communication companies in the country, have saluted the National Assembly Members for unanimously amending the Motor Traffic Amendment Bill, describing it as a ‘wise decision of the parliament’.

The Motor Traffic Amendment Bill, which seeks to encourage the usage of free hand set mobile communication while driving, was recently passed by the National Assembly Members during the second meeting in the 2008 legislative year.

According to Rein Zwolsman, chief executive officer of Gamtel/Gamcel, the move is a step in the right direction considering the unprecedented car accidents of which, most are attributed to mobile communication when driving. Accordng to him, in most parts of the world, it is either not allow or have registeration to use it. “We all know that driving a car is something one needs to be very focus. In most cases, one will see drivers talking and driving with one hand. This often results to accidents, since certain conversations may lead one to totally loose focus. Investigations have even shown that, making phone calls while driving are increasing the risk of accidents” he said.

For his part, Papa Leigh, Sales and Marketin manager of Africell, said the usage of mobile phones while driving is perhaps the negative impact of GSM since it can claim a live when an accident occur. “I have seen a lot of drivers when driving, read sms, dial calls, and can completely loose focus. Some fatal accidents are definately course as a result of mobile communication” he said.

He welcomed the amendment of the bill, adding that it will greatly address the problem and let the drivers stick to the new laws.

Samer Mehaidly, commercial director of Comium also expressed his fullest support to the bill, saying that using mobile hand set while driving can course accidents.

“One shouldn’t be talking and driving using hand set. The bill has gave alternative of using free hand set which are available in most shops. People can used free hand set instead of a hand set when driving,’’ he said.

Mehaidly noted that they as players in the GSM industry, equally care about people’s live since their success solely rely on them.

Author: by Hatab Fadera

Heralding New Traffic Laws, Enforcing the Old

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:58:49 GMT

Thursday, June 26, 2008

The new bill prohibiting the use of mobile phones while driving and, in another section, requiring the use of seat belts, holds out hope to many that road accidents will now diminish considerably. It should be appreciated by drivers that phoning while driving could create a high risk of road accidents, and some fatal accidents for that matter. Use of a mobile while driving carries two risk factors; it mostly compels the driver to have only one hand on the steering wheel; if confronted with sudden danger of collision, quick control or maneuver may not always be possible and this could lead to an accident. Secondly, use of his phone may require a driver to concentrate very intensively at some stage, and this could also lead to an accident. The legislation would therefore help reduce such accidents if not totally, at least drastically. But the legislation should ban headphones as well, because where as they avoid the first risk of one handed driving and control; it is also, like the hand phone, caught in the second risk of affected concentration.

Similarly the section of the bill requiring the use of seat belts has obvious protective merit. There have been accidents and casualties that could have been prevented by the simple use of a seat belt.

The belt secures a would-be casualty from being ejected through the windscreen or making serious impact with the steering wheel or dashboard. With this safety mechanism lots of accidents could be averted.

But everything said and done, there is still a need to tackle the root cause of many an accident, and this relates to speeding. Vehicles are being driven at such high speeds that there is no way of stopping or averting danger. The result? Serious or fatal accidents coupled at times with damage to public property or third party property. With regard to the new laws on the wearing of seatbelts we will see the saving of individual lives because of their implementation. Unfortunately when it comes to speeding many more lives are at risk. If two cars collide then the occupants of both are at risk. There is also the issue of innocent by-standers to be considered. The potential for injury where speeding is involved is far greater. We have witnessed many such accidents along the Banjul-Serrekunda highway and they abound on the Senegambia road. This being the case, it is therefore also necessary for the police to put up many more speed limits already imposed by law. This problem area has assumed greater urgency now that the rains are here as the roads will become extra slippery.

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3 taxi drivers convicted

Thu, 22 May 2008 05:07:05 GMT

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Magistrate Mustapha Camara of the Kanifing Municipal Court, yesterday sentenced 3 taxi drivers, namely, Malick Secka, Usainou Sanyang and Ousman Camara, for driving without proper license, obstruction of traffic and failure to stop when asked by a traffic police officer on duty.

According to the facts before the court, Malick Secka, the first acused person, with vehicle registeration number BJL 1354C, was on the 9th of May at around 3: o’clock to 3:30 am asked to stop by the traffic police, but he refused.

According to the prosecution witness, Suba Jallow, from the Mobile Traffic Unit, he and his team had gone out on patrol around Kotu... “the accused person saw us coming and took a U-turn,” he said.

He continued that Malick Secka was followed in hot pursuit by the police patrol crew, who later got him arrested. He said that the vehicle was thoroughly searched and a goat was found inside it.

In his plea of mitigation, Malick Secka, who pleaded guilty, asked for mercy.

In his ruling, Magistrate Camara fined the accused the sum of D3,000.000 in default to serve six months in jail.

The second accused person, Ousman Camara, also a taxi driver, was charged with driving a vehicle without proper driving license, contrary to the laws of The Gambia. However, Magistrate Camara told the court that since the accused was a first time offender, he would pay the sum of D2,000, in default to serve three months jail. And the third accused person, Ousainou Sanyang, a taxi driver as well, also got his share after facing charges on traffic obstruction, contrary to Section 84(A) of the Traffic Act.

Magistrate Camara ordered him to pay the amount of five hundred dalasis D500.00, in default to serve six months in prison.

At the end of the proceeding, Magistrate Camara warned drivers to abide by the laws governing their proffesion, promising that his court would not allow any reckless drivers to go scout free. He urged the police to beef-up their security so as to free the country from “dangerous and unscsrupulus elements.”

Author: by Fakebba Camara

Youth Matters: Global road safety About 1000 young people die of road accident daily

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:16:33 GMT

Friday, April 25, 2008

The Gambia Road Authority (GRA) and the national youth parliament jointly commemorated the Global Road Safety Week, yesterday. Celebrated annually all over the world, the Global Road Safety week has the aim of bringing to the fore issues relating to road safety and traffic accidents.

This year’s celebration (with the theme: Road safety is no accident) is the second of its kind since the international community observed the first ever UN Road Safety Week last year.

The event was characterized by a march past, comprising students, GRA officials and NYP members, from the Westfield junction, through the Kairaba Avenue, ending at the Kairaba Police Station, near the traffic light junction.

In his statement to the youths, the managing director of GRA, Karamo Jaiteh, speaking on behalf of the SoS for Works, Construction and Infrastructure, Honorable Lamin Bojang, said that “as we celebrate this important event, we need to reflect on the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Road Safety is no accident’. Mr Jaiteh said that the activities marking this celebration are geared towards the sensitization of the general public and the daily road users on road safety measures, in a bid to avoid road accidents.

Mr Jaiteh went on to say: “according to the world report on road traffic injury protection, about 1000 young people under the age of 25 years are killed in road traffic accidents daily around the globe.” He also said that most young people killed in road crashes are vulnerable road users and these include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and passengers on public transport.

According to him, road traffic injuries place a heavy burden, not only on global and national economies, but also its effect on household finances, as many families are driven deeply into poverty by the loss of breadwinners and the added burden of caring for relatives disabled by road traffic injuries.

“It is a concern that unsafe practices by users of roads are seriously harming public health and development. The level of road traffic injury is unacceptable, because it is mostly avoidable. The use of seat belts, helmets and rejecting mobile calls are all measures to prevent road accidents.

The GRA boss further noted that the government of The Gambia acknowledged road traffic injuries as a major public health and development problem and that it had placed road safety high on its development agenda.

He added that since 1994, general road construction works were undertaken, which were aimed at providing quality road infrastructure across the country, and that with the visionary leadership of his Excellency the President of the Republic, the Gambia Roads Authority was established to supervise and monitor all road maintenance and constructions.

For his part, Commissioner Jammeh Conta, speaking on behalf of the IGP, said that the Gambia Police Force had recently introduced a 24 hour, routine traffic patrol mission, during which vehicle checking exercise aimed at reducing road traffic accidents and other motor traffic related problems would be conducted.

According to him traffic management skill remained one of the greatest challenges facing the Gambia Police Force.

Other speakers at the ceremony included the Secretary General of the Gambia National Transport Control Association, a representative of the speaker of the National Youth Parliament, and Hon. Yassin Nyan, who delivered the youth statement.

Author: by Ebrima Jatta