The circumstances surrounding Thursday’s accident, involving a steel beam being dislodged from a truck that was transporting it hitting the driver of an oncoming vehicle, are a reminder that road safety is not only about speeding and blood alcohol levels. It is also about good practices being consistently maintained.

Initial reports indicate that at about 11 am Kern Bobb, 33, was driving his company’s vehicle after conducting business at Petrotrin. However, he was injured when the beams of a truck came loose and crashed through the windscreen of the vehicle, striking him on the head.

This incident brought back memories of the freak accident of November 2013 in which a mother of five was hit with steel rods that had been dislodged from a truck transporting them in front of her. That incident was fatal.

Both events underline the need to ensure materials being transported are safely secured.

More and more, our roads are being used to transport large quantities of freight. Daily, ordinary commuters share our transport system with large trucks and other vehicles transporting a range of hazardous materials. We do not have a system that provides for a dedicated lane for trucks.

Drivers of vehicles transporting items have a legal duty to ensure these items are safely stowed. Section 42 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations states, “In the case of goods vehicles the load shall be properly secured in such a manner as effectively to prevent the displacement of any portion thereof by the motion of travel.”

This provision, however, is arguably limited to only specific types of vehicles. We may want to look to the legal provisions of other countries that are wider.

In New Zealand, Regulation 246 issued under the Road Traffic Act bans motor vehicles carrying goods which are not safely contained within the body of such vehicle; or securely fastened to such vehicle, and which are not properly protected from being dislodged or spilled from such vehicle. Additionally, nothing is supposed to make contact with the surface of the road, block mirrors, or exceed half the height of the vehicle.

In that country, even persons who are not drivers have duties. The regulations make it clear that operators of a fleet must, “take all reasonable measures to ensure that such motor vehicle is operated on a public road in compliance with the provisions for the loading and transportation of goods as prescribed by or under this Act”.

Accidents involving loads becoming dislodged must be treated with seriously. Not only must the driver be held accountable, but in cases where the driver is employed by a company, that company too should face consequences if any violations occurred.

Normally, if the incident is fatal, then the local law calls for an inquest. Nonetheless, all serious accidents should be probed.

In Trinidad and Tobago we tend to have a laissez-faire attitude to matters of safety. But taking risks on the road potentially affects everyone. The results can be gruesome and tragic.

The work of organisations such as Arrive Alive – which last July celebrated twelve years since its formal incorporation as an NGO – is vital in raising awareness and changing our habits.

The law is an important avenue for redress when things go wrong. In theory, it is also a deterrent. However, tackling the social aspect of this issue that is the most effective guarantee that accidents like last Thursday’s will not recur. This means it is up to drivers to realise just how loaded with danger their vehicles can become. And to take as many steps as possible to make them safe again.

Addressing the newly-elected Executive of the Horticultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago (HSTT) at its Annual General Meeting held on Saturday, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat offered his congratulations and challenged the Society to apply itself strategically in the year ahead.

Stressing the importance of remaining relevant with the changing times, he cautioned that “success should be measured by relevancy and not longevity,” The Society was also challenged to raise interest in its activities, especially targeting the young generation.

Well-known environmentalist Narine “Gupte” Lutchmedial who is the newly elected President of the HSTT endorsed the comments of Minister Rambharat and assured that the executive will consider them as they plan activities for the upcoming year. “The Minister has indicated that the HSTT can participate in the Farmers’ Market managed by NAMDEVCO and this will be an option to explore as we look at increasing income generation,” said Lutchmedial.

At this time, the HSTT’s flower market which provides an avenue for sale of tropical cut flowers and foliage is based at the Lady Chancellor Headquarters only and the opportunity for expanding into other locations and serving additional clientele is not to be missed, the HSTT executive said.

Lutchmedial is looking forward to work in concert with the immediate Past President Joan Hampton and the other elected members to build on the excellent reputation of the Society. “I am pleased to be involved in this Society which is well-known for winning awards internationally and showcasing our native flowers and foliage at the highly anticipated annual flower show,” Lutchmedial said. He added that his concern for and pride in this country’s native flora and fauna will motivate him to do his best during his tenure.

In addition to Lutchmedial, the other members who will serve on the executive are Joan Hampton – Immediate Past President, Chanardai Ramkissoon — 1st Vice President, Hyacinth Cross — 2nd Vice President, new committee members Kerry-Ann Harrison, Mala Ramnath, Sundar Seecharan, Kimberly Howai and Paul Duval, and continuing members Denise Gobin-Rocke, Melissa Lee Foon, Bertille Sealy, Janice Barnes and Theresa Chasteau.

In light of the change in global weather patterns and hurricanes in the Caribbean there are food shortages in some Caribbean islands and in efforts to provide assistance to these neighbouring islands affected by hurricanes, there is a need to decrease post-harvest losses which is hugely impacting farmers locally.

“It is our duty to help them but we can only do this by reducing the amount of losses on the farm due to the damage of crops when they are being harvested or transported,” said the Acting Chief Executive Officer of NAMDEVCO, Debysingh-Persad.

On Saturday, Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat in collaboration with the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) distributed over 100 crates to 40 farmers at the NAMDEVCO Chaguanas Farmers’ Market in efforts of reducing post-harvest losses.

Post-harvest losses are losses associated with fresh commodities after they have been harvested. “At the point of harvest there are a number of issues starting –because of improper handling and storage we have hastened deterioration of produce. The way to get around that is to handle the produce properly. NAMDEVCO wants to look at controlled temperatures that will reduce the deterioration rate of produce and by placing the product in receptacles that would keep the produce safe and not cause cracking or compression during transportation to the point of sale,” explained Debysingh-Persad.

One of the mitigation methods is the use of crates. Farmers utilising crates along with proper handling practices and food safety systems would all work towards reducing post-harvest losses. Debysingh-Persad stated that it is NAMDEVCO’s mandate to provide sustainable markets and market practices for farmers and consumers alike as there are a lot of ways produce can be injured while being transported from the farm to the point of sale.

Rambharat said that every initiative his ministry had started has been done in the best interest of farmers, with NAMDEVCO’s expansion projects already underway in Debe and Macoya. “We understand the concerns of farmers especially when it comes to getting your products from the fields to the market. We are also concerned about the change in global weather patterns because our farmers are left exposed, so we want to move towards having a farming system that can withstand the harsh weather and lead to more sustainable farming practices,” said Rambharat at the ministry’s new head office in Chaguanas.

Present at the crate distribution ceremony was the Chairman of the Board of NAMDEVCO, Dennis Ramdeen, Senator Avinash Singh, Nirmalla Debysingh-Persad, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of NAMDEVCO and the Assistant to the Major of the Chaguanas Borough Jagdeo Balroop. Farmers from as far as Rio Claro and Central Trinidad came out in support of the venture.

He was a top muscleman, she runs 17 kilometres a week, and they now are both working to stem the local onslaught of non communicable diseases (NCDs).

Dr Ian Ho A Shu is health specialist at the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) which is loaning US$48.4 million to the Ministry of Health’s Health Services Support Programme (HSSP) run by fellow medic Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards.

The duo in a recent interview at the IDB’s St Clair office told Sunday Newsday how they hoped the money would help save the nation from the health and financial costs of the current upsurge in NCDs.

For this loan, NCDs are listed as cancer, cardio-vascular diseases and diabetes, although elsewhere can also be defined to include the likes of mental illness, said Abdool-Richards.

Briefing notes supplied by Dr Ho A Shu suggest that 80 per cent of all deaths in TT are due to NCDs, whose associated risks are poor diet, alcohol abuse, tobacco use and physical inactivity. Half the adult population of TT are overweight, and TT now has four times as many overweight kids as a decade ago. Childhood obesity is a precursor to adult obesity and poses a heightened risk for cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnoea and social problems.

Since 1980 the prevalence of diabetes has increased by 350 per cent, and for each patient on dialysis the health system is paying an extra $136,000 per year. The annual economic burden of all NCDs is $6 billion, or three percent of TT’s GDP.

Ho A Shu said the project will aim to change personal behaviour as early as primary school level. The Healthy Schools TT initiative will encourage more physical activity, plus food preparation guidelines. “We’ll measure BMI from the First Year for a five year period,” he said. Students, parents and teachers will all be involved, effused Ho A Shu.

NCD status is largely related to such as diet, exercise, tobacco and alcohol use, he remarked. “We need to get this message out and measure if it is having an impact. “Traditionally, these programmes are very good at getting the information out, but a gap exists in collecting the results and data.”

Noting the four-fold increase in child obesity, Ho A Shu lamented, “This is the first time in history that the younger generation are unhealthier than the older generation.” He said NCD awareness must constantly be kept in the public eye.

Abdool-Richards said the IDB loan will aim to improve both self-management of NCDs and hospital delivery of care. It will boost the capacity of health providers such as dieticians plus the use of ICT to monitor patients. The loan will fund the screening of pregnant women for diabetes, she added.

Ho A Shu said the loan can help in the upgrade of existing recreation parks and other facilities by the likes of gym equipment to encourage people to exercise more. This funding will be by capital expenditure, but with the Government otherwise to be responsible for recurrent costs such as salaries of sports coaches, he added. Abdool-Richards was glad that the IDB will also be offering its technical expertise to implement aspects of the programme. Even as the programme will enact health ideals espoused by both the United Nations and the Government, she hoped it will become a model of best practice for emulation throughout the Caribbean, where it is the first ever project of this magnitude.

IDB documents show the main allocations of the loan, chiefly US$30 million to the NCDs Prevention and Control Plan, US$8.4 million to the Human Resources for Health Plan, US$5 million for the Health Facilities Investment Management and US$2.1 million for Project Administration. A US$3.5 million counterpart from the Government will fund an e-Health Information Management System.