Lennox Lloyd is the fourteen year old Ascott High student who was flung from a bus as it overturned in Portmore St. Catherine on May 29, following a high speed chase involving a bus, The Police and The Transport Authority.
The boy wasn't simply killed in another road accident. There were several irresponsible behaviour which led to the death of the child. If the police and relevant authorities were doing their jobs as they should've Lennox and other could have been saved.
The driver of the bus in which Lloyd travelling was found to have 85 outstanding traffic tickets; some fifty of them were for running traffic signs.
This means this man has had at least 50 opportunities before this accident to possibly cause someone's death. Now whose fault is that? What kind of system is so inefficient that a person can get away with such serious road offences?
Fast forward to Tuesday's incident; everybody is pointing a finger. Alleged eyewitnesses are blaming Transport Authority, The Transport Authority denying a chase, taxi associations not even addressing the fact that the driver did not stop and head of the police traffic department Radcliff Lewis denying eyewitnsses claims.
But it appears taxi and bus operators have no conscience. This is even more reason for Jamaica to move swiftly in regularizing the transport system because these drivers have the galls to drive carelessly then run from the scene of an accident when one occurs, usually unhurt. They protect themselves and if they are caught doing something illegal, because often times they don't own the vehicles, they act carelessly and let the owners take the heat. From exorbitant traffic fees and the seizing of vehicles the owners are bombarded with a lot.
Speaking of the drivers, not one of the association has condemned the driver's actions. All is being said is that the Transport Authority should not have chased the bus. I would not like to think they are, at this point using this incident as a forum to throw jabs at The Transport Authority in their ongoing tit-for-tat. By the way, what does the Transport Authority have to prove by chasing and successfully capturing a driver acting outside of the law? respect and reputation perhaps? Could they have been so reckless to chase the bus knowing over thirty children were inside? If the alleged eyewitness accounts are true, what will happen to those involved? After all the Authority is promising an investigation.
At this point I cant decide for you who killed that boy. It was Lennox Lloyd today but what measures will be put in place to ensure no one else goes like this?
Nothing I bet. Unless someone considered important is killed in a similar manner, it will be business as usual. Remember the JPS issue, it was not a problem until 'certain people' started feeling the pressure too. The law in Jamaica is appearing to be toothless. no clutches, meagre penalties and low standard. Why is this beginning to feel like a game of the nasty Russian Roulette?
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