Department of Transport to Increase Road Security

It was a tragic weekend across Belize after a series of road traffic accidents claimed the lives of eight individuals. In the north, two families lost a parent and a child in a collision, and several were critically injured, while in southern Belize a five-year-old and two family members were killed while driving back from celebrating the child’s birthday in Punta Gorda. These unfortunate events have raised concerns with the public about the safety of the roads and highlighted issues regarding their upkeep that need to be addressed. We asked Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer, what the department is doing to address these concerns considering the recent accidents. Here’s what he had to say.

 

Britney Gordon

“We had a very tragic weekend with several accidents across Belize. Can you speak a little bit about, how the department is responding to that?”

 

Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer

“Well, the department has started, we have increased the number of patrols, both for the areas that are hot spots. as well as for doing normal checks along the highways. It is also important that we highlight the collaborative effort that we should have between the police and the Department of Transport, especially during the after hours, because majority of these accidents normally happen when the sun goes down, for lack of a better term. But the idea is that we want to collaboratively work along with the police department to have at least some sort of security with us when we do those patrols within the, within the nighttime.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So there has been some criticism, especially, in the southern region about, poor lighting on the highways and a lack of markings on the highway. So how is the department addressing these issues?”

 

Leon Gentle

“In my opinion, it’s important for us as well, collaborate with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing because they’re primarily the persons responsible for And that is also about improving the roads and infrastructure within the country, and so it’s is a wider discussion not only from the Department of Transport, but also with the ministry of infrastructure, development and housing, and primarily because of that there has to be that conversation that we have before we can produce a timeline as to how to improve that. But we do agree that there is need for markings on the road. As well as for increasing in lighting or reflectors within the road. So it is a conversation that we intend to have with the Ministry of infrastructure, development and housing.”