Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 23, 2014 Editorial
In 2011 when the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce argued that there was no evidence that used tyres caused road accidents they were on good grounds. This position was taken in light of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards’ (GNBS) proposal to ban the importation of those items into Guyana. What the various stakeholders seemingly ignored was the fact that the condition of roads in this country is not conducive to safe vehicular travel at the best of times, much less using tyres of dubious quality on motor vehicles. It has already been argued that the police who are charged with investigating road accidents are not equipped in training or aptitude to determine whether a crash resulted from a mechanical defect from the manufacturer or caused by wear and tear or some other reason. So how can the Ministry claim that it has not received any scientific evidence from the police which shows that used tyres cause “more accidents?” Please note the term ‘more’. Did the ministry request such evidence from the police; and if it did what was the official response?
First of all consumers need to be told what is the required thickness that a tyre must have before it can be considered roadworthy. Consumers need to understand that they have the choice to refuse to purchase those tyres which do not measure up, including used tyres. The fact that there were opposing views on this matter should have been sufficient reason to seek to ventilate all arguments, particularly since the safety of the minibus traveling public was, and remains in question. In the recent past there have been reports of crashes occasioned by tyre blowouts and it has rested there with the usual bromides about speeding being the sole cause of the crash coming from Eve Leary.
The clamour by the Minibus Association is to be expected because of the profit motive. However, the main bone of contention should not be the low cost of used tyres but rather the efficacy of those items weighed against safe road travel for the commuting public. To disregard the technical advice of the GNBS, brings into question the competence of those hard working public servants including those at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and mirrors an almost pathetic subservience to the vested political interests. It borders on asininity to ask the GPF to ensure that tyres are up to standard. What should engage us is the importance of building better roads which last more than three months, and maintaining them if the authorities are so hell-bent on continuing the importation of used tyres. Maybe, it is time the police revise the whole concept of braking distance on wet roads.
The arrant nonsense that each tyre is physically checked for who knows what specifications and surveillance of storage facilities is unacceptable. There is a clear danger of used tyres having underlying damage which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Maybe it is not too late to follow the example of the Ghana Police Motor Transport and Traffic Unit and that country’s Customs and Excise 2011 decision to ban the importation of used tyres. But we should not hold our breaths for that to happen here. Those of us who have been around a while would remember our locally retreaded Bandag tyres, and we have to wonder what prevents recourse to that initiative if the technology involved is environmentally correct. What we need to see is some more corporate social responsibility with regard to human safety issues and a willingness to step up the investment ladder. The coffers of this country are bloated off the blood, sweat and even tears of tax-fatigued citizens who deserve no less.
The relevant state agency must invite the views and active participation of all stakeholders on the question of the outright ban of used tyre importation, including the National Road Safety Council; local representatives for tyre manufacturers; the EPA on the environmental impact etc. It would be interesting to know the actual dollar value it costs to dispose of old used tyres which obviously will wear away faster than new tyres thereby requiring replacement more frequently and in the process, making a dent in cash-strapped people’s pockets.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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