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Emphasis on Road Safety Labour Day

April 8, 2004

The Full Story

National Labour Day will be celebrated on Monday, May 24, under the theme: ‘Road Safety First.Avoid the Worst’.
Details of the event were outlined by Minister of Education, Youth and Culture, Maxine Henry-Wilson, at a joint ceremony held in observance of World Health Day and the official launch of Labour Day 2004 on Tuesday, April 7 at Excelsior Community College in Kingston.
“It is important that all communities are involved in doing something to raise the consciousness of our people about what each and everyone can do to ensure that we have less accidents on our roads,” she said.Delivering the Prime Minister’s message, the Minister urged the gathering to come together in the true spirit of volunteerism to give their full support and recognition to Labour Day.
“We now have to use all our collective energies to make sure that the road to safety becomes, not just another initiative but a sustainable public education campaign for everyone involved in road transportation, road traffic management, safety education and communication,” she added.
She noted that the campaign would concentrate its attention on the three major components of the system – the motorist, the vehicle and the environment in which persons travel. With this in mind, the Government planned to introduce strong measures to improve vehicle safety and to erect signs at hazardous locations that have been identified.
The strategy puts a high priority on co-ordinated action in all the key areas of road safety – pedestrian education, direct community road safety participation, active passenger and public empowerment, law compliance, vehicle condition, fleet regulation, and driver fitness and training,” the Minister said.
Activities for this year’s Labour Day will include the paving of sidewalks, the erection of road signs and speed bumps, the painting of pedestrian crossings, the clearing of bushes around road signs, among other road safety initiatives.
Communities will be asked to consult relevant authorities, such as the National Works Agency and the Road Safety Unit for validation prior to the undertaking of any project. Following approval, the projects are to be registered at the Social Development Commission (SDC) offices in the respective parishes.
Labour Day is a calendar event, recognized not only as a public holiday, but as a day of community involvement across Jamaica, providing an opportunity for all citizens to demonstrate pride in their heritage of service, and love for country.

Last Updated: April 8, 2004

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