The Inquirer (Monrovia)
5 March 2008
editorial
FOR SOME TIME now, it has been observed that some of the motor accidents recorded across the country especially within Monrovia and its environs by the Liberia National Police (LNP), are caused by trucks carrying containers mainly from the Freeport of Monrovia to some business centers.
IN MOST CASES, the accidents had been the result of brake-failure; deflated tyres and some other mechanical deficiencies, which had rendered such vehicles unfit to ply any road, lest for them to carry containers. As it has been observed, when these trucks are involved in accidents, the containers normally slide and fall off the trucks and at times fall on those around the scene of the incident, thus resulting to their instant deaths.
SEVERAL PERSONS AROUND the scenes where these fatal accidents occur are normally victimized and properties damaged. The most recent case was reported over the weekend in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when a truck carrying a 40 ft. container collided with a commercial bus, thus, leading to the instant death of a police officer identified as Sgt. Charles M. Cooper, who was directing the traffic in front of the ministry at that time.
AS A RESULT of this latest incident, the Liberia Seaport Police (LSP) and the Liberia National Police (LNP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, on Monday held a meeting at which, time they put in place some strong regulations aimed at preventing any other similar occurrence of container trucks causing such disasters. According to the Director of the Liberia Seaport Police (LSP), Ashford Peal, the new regulation is expected to streamline all container trucks entering or leaving the Freeport of Monrovia, by ensuring that they are roadworthy and in perfect running condition before they are declared eligible to transport containers.
AT A MEETING attended by the Chief of Traffic of the Liberia National Police, Mickey Gray, the Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), Mr. George Tubman and the Nigerian Contingent assigned at the port, it was agreed upon under the new regulations that a special team made up specialized mechanics would carry out the inspection of container trucks to ensure that they are road worthy, while operators of these trucks will be made to fill in a special form before any transaction.
UNDER THE NEW regulations, the trucks would be issued special stickers or access passes if they successfully pass all the regulations, which will include that they meet all road worthiness requirements before they are qualified to transport containers.
WE WELCOME THE latest decision by the LSP, LNP, the Nigerian Contingent, and the Ministry of Justice as well as the truck owners themselves to meet these set of regulations for the movement of their trucks, as this would actually help minimize the high rate of accidents and deaths caused by container trucks, which seems to be getting out of proportion.
FOR US, WE feel that the formulation and the subsequent enforcement of these regulations are overdue judging from the fact that container accidents have been frequent and have caused many destructions and deaths in the country especially in the city of Monrovia. Now that these regulations have been formulated to bring some relief to city dwellers to prevent fatal accidents involving container trucks, our major concern has to do with the implementation or the enforcement of these brilliant ideas or regulations that have been agreed upon.
IT HAS BECOME a common habit for us to say good things and draw up good plans, but the enforcement and implementation of these plans had always posed a great challenge to us, something which, has resulted to our failures in most cases. It is in view of the preceding issues that we call on all those concerned to respect these regulations and ensure that they are implemented to the letter with out any fear, favor or consideration in the interest of the public. Let no one or institution be excepted from abiding by these regulations simply because of political affiliation or other special considerations, as doing this would simply mean to compromise the interest and safety of the masses.
AGAIN, WE CALL for the stringent enforcement of these regulations to minimize the frequent fatal accidents caused by container trucks.
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