By Gibao Brima
It is no doubt that institutions are not made by themselves but rather people make institutions to become better and in that direction such people most have the wits and knowledge to occupy those offices.
The District Traffic Officer at Habour police Division Chief Inspector Richard Kamanda and his team of personnel has worked relentlessly to ensure lawless drivers plying in his area of responsibility go by the motor’s driving rules and regulations.
In an ongoing general traffic operation, 25 drivers have been charged to court for various traffic offences ranging from unlicensed and uninsured vehicles, smooth tires, for failing to take passengers to the right destination i.e. conducting themselves on half way routes.
Half way vehicle driving has been an order of the day in the city, thus adding serious financial burden on passengers mostly plying along Waterloo to Bombay.
But Kamanda (DTO) and team are determined to see that half-way driving is laid to rest.
In a snap interview with Mr Richard Kamanda on the current traffic operation, he told this reporter that the operation is not a “witch hunt” as it is perceive by some drivers.
But rather the police are charged with the responsibility to ensuring that drivers and all other machines using the highway follow the due traffic rules.
One such rule is not to park your motor on the road without it being licensed and insured.
Doing so, it means you are defrauding the State. He added that government uses this resources for development purposes and that is why the police as a law enforcement body to make sure that revenues meant for the consolidated fund do not go in vain.
Dilating further the DTO retreated that police are charged with the responsibility to protect lives and properties and that is why, he said, they cannot stand by to see drivers plying the roads with smooth tires which can sometimes result to fatal accidents where lives are destroyed while destruction on vehicles worth millions of leones occur.
Drivers are in habit of half ways movement thus causing unnecessary financial burden on people with doing it just for their own personal gains.
The police, he said, as a law enforcement body cannot sit by and see this ugly development happening.
The operation, he said, is ongoing as long as they have the blessing of their able Director of Traffic AIG Francis Hasley and their able Inspector General of police William Fayia Sellu.
“We will work to ensure law an order is maintain,” he said.
DTO Kamanda further said transformation is a drive. He said his team believes in right direction they are pushing towards.
His team together with the well-wishers had embarked to erect an additional office building to help them work in a conducive atmosphere.
“Soon, with God be our helper this building will soon finish,” he said.
He appealed to other well-wishers to come on board since the police are operating on an community strategy. He said the police belong to the people.
When asked what are the challenges the DTO said from his own observation it had been a habit for importers mostly the Lebanese in hiring many trailers whenever they do importations and do not want to exceed the time in paying extra taxes to the port.
These trailers are in the habit to flood the highway causing traffic congestions from Ferry junction right across to Savage Square.
In that direction the DTO said he had summoned meeting with all importers that when their goods were discharged at the port only five trailers were scheduled to go down the port per movement adding that the Police ensure these trailers were parked and well monitored at Jenner wright road in bid to avoid traffic congestions.
He said this method had helped to ease the traffic congestions within his area of responsibility.