Advertisement

St. Elizabeth Police ban bike shows during festive season

Superintendent Coleridge Minto, head of the St. Elizabeth Police
By Kimone Witter    
 
The St. Elizabeth Police have placed a ban on the staging of motorcycle shows during the Yuletide season.
 
This was disclosed by commanding officer for the parish, Superintendent Coleridge Minto, during an address to the St. Elizabeth Municipal Corporation meeting on Thursday.
 
Superintendent Minto told councillors that no permits will be issued for those events due to concern about the number of road fatalities and breaches of the Road Traffic Act involving motorcyclists in the parish. 
 
"That decision was a collective decision when I met with my management team and we discussed it. Last year, 17 persons died from motorcycles. This year, 12 died. We have seized hundreds of unlicensed motorbikes, uninsured bikes and scores of these drivers continue to drive without wearing safety helmets. And so we're not approving any bike show during this period," he declared. 
 
Superintendent Minto said the police will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to motorcyclists operating in breach of the law. 
 
But there are mixed views among residents of Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth to the decision to ban bike shows during the festive season.
 
"The bike guy dem, dem ride too awful in the town, very much. They're making a lot of noise and them nuh respect the people them. Sometimes them buss some shots, we can't tolerate it," said resident Peter Smith. 
 
However, he acknowledged that while some motorcyclists are a nuisance to other road users, efforts should have been made to reach a compromise with promoters of bike shows. 
 
Another resident argued that promoters should be allowed to stage bike shows and "have their enjoyment, because life is short".  
 


comments powered by Disqus
Most Popular
Tourism minister predicts strong 2024/25...
Police charge 6 people in connection with...
Policeman killed during gas station robbery