Should the average citizen be curious why the government is moving at breakneck speed to implement laws to regulate the darkness of tint on vehicles BUT less so about other proposed important laws stuck in the pipeline? The government signalled in September 2024 that tinting laws would be implemented by January 2025. However, as it has had to do with many proposals in its tenure, the implementation of tint level has been delayed to ensure required logistics is satisfied.
Research shows that breathalyser legislation was enacted in 2020 but the government has delayed its implementation. One reason given was that metered taxi rates had to be approved to provide alternative transportation options for drivers. There was another reason circulated that the Barbados Police Service (BPS) needed to be trained on the testing equipment which was not yet on island.
It is obvious the government does not have breathalyser testing as a priority to compare with regulating the darkness of tinted windows. The blogmaster is concerned about the lack of integrity in policymaking. It is obvious there is a hidden agenda at play regarding how government prioritises implementation of laws. Is it that the increasing number of homicides; 50 for the year so far, has forced government to ‘do something’ in order to assuage public concerns?
Barbados is known as a country where citizens from all socioeconomic strata engage in drinking alcohol. In fact, one suspects if members of the BPS were tested any time in any day of the week, alcohol levels would exceed the legal limit. The excuse government may counter to explain the delay in breathalyser testing is that data is not collected by authorities to support an evidence based approach to the matter. As a people we are too hypocritical, unless personally impacted there is a reluctance to take a stand to fight a cause. We are familiar with the saying – “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”.
Two years ago the government announced that the Electronic Vehicle Registration System (EVR) would have been implemented very ‘soon’. By requiring electronic tags on the windshields of vehicles the EVR detects unregistered vehicles as well as speeding vehicles on the roads. One would have anticipated given the reported high number of unregistered vehicles and high level of lawlessness observed on the roads daily, the EVR should be a priority project. Why has this initiative been delayed like many others? Why are citizens and relevant civil society agencies reluctant to stridently advocate on this and similar issues?
On a related matter, have we observed how the handsfree law is ignored by the majority of motorists? It is not uncommon to observe motorists, while driving, using mobile phones, including members of the BFS and PSV operators. Forgive a blogmaster who is becoming more and more cynical and apathetic regarding a lack of purpose by successive governments to ensure the wellbeing of our little country is being maintained. There is a declining regard to maintain law, order and enforcing justice. Th consequence is that our society has become unstable.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.