Dennie Quill, Contributor
CONSTANTINE EDWARDS should not have died that way. He is the retired schoolteacher who rode his bicycle into a ravine created by raging waters that ripped apart sections of a road in Boundbrook, Portland. The destruction that accompanies natural events like flooding and hurricanes cannot be predicted but some tragedies can be avoided. This one could have been avoided.
The tragic accident placed residents of that Portland community in a foul mood, especially since they had appealed to the parish authorities to place a light in the area. They recognised that this road was endangering public safety and had asked for help. This explains why they were so mad when Edwards plunged to his death and even more upset when the authorities belatedly placed tape around the danger zone.
A COMMUNITY'S FAILURE TO ACT
From news reports, the damage occurred about three weeks before this accident. It appears there was no warning mechanism to alert citizens that danger lurked ahead. My question is this: In the face of the non-response from the powers that be, was there no one in the community who could have posted a warning sign, however crude? Here is one disheartening example of a community's failure to act and the consequent pain and despair caused to a family.
The quality of life which we enjoy in our communities depends largely on the extent to which emergency services - police, fire, etc., - can respond promptly and efficiently to our needs. In this case, the parish authorities appear to have been negligent. The manner of Mr. Edwards' death is a stark wake-up call for Parish Councils, the National Works Agency and all agencies concerned with public safety. It is not possible for them to oversee everyone's activity in every community; however, they do have a mandate to ensure public safety.
In light of Mr. Edwards' death, I believe all of these agencies should be reviewing their public safety mechanisms to see if they can measure up to the responsibility demanded of them as stewards of public safety.
However, I can't let the community off the hook; citizens often have to find solutions to their problems. Frustrated by the non-responsive nature of Government, I know some people who have taken the view that they exist despite Government, so they order their lives accordingly.
I have seen it all over the country. A road sign blown down, flooded streets, huge craters in the road, marl and other construction material obstructing traffic - no longer do we feel we are our brother's keeper. Communities are waiting for someone to fix the problem. Edwards' death is a sharp reminder that the threat of future tragedies looms large all around us.
In days of yore, it would not be necessary but now it seems we need a campaign to urge communities to play a more fundamental role in supporting public safety. Somehow we have to understand that we are mutually dependent on each other.
PUBLIC'S SAFETY COMES FIRST
The Government is bankrupt, so we know why parish councils are strapped for cash, but the safety of the public should be placed above all other considerations. Confidence in the resolve of the parish councils to attend to the basics has been badly shaken by this incident.
I trust that an enquiry will be done to establish what went wrong at Boundbrook and why the parish council failed to live up to its responsibility to protect members of the public. This has to be a key part of such an enquiry. Please don't let this man die in vain.
The least that can be done is for the parish council to pick up the tab for Mr. Edwards' funeral expenses. Perhaps they could go further and name the bridge after him.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.
