by John Farmer
There has been a lot of press coverage lately about the so-called "traffic problem" in New Providence. The Tribune published an article early in the week following an interview with a civil servant in the Road Traffic department. According to this gentleman, the population of NP will be reduced as everyone moves out to take up those jobs-to-be in the Out Island anchor projects, hence alleviating the traffic problem. Let’s not hold your breath waiting for that to happen!
The reality is the traffic problem is a result of a non-existent public transportation service (I do not classify the Jitney "service" as "public" transport), particularly with regard to the schools. As any worker in Nassau will tell you, there is no "traffic problem" when the schools are out. Therefore the first step towards alleviating the problem would be to develop a school bus system.
This could be best achieved by staggering the starting times for school, say primary at 8, middle at 9, and high school at 10 (teenagers need their sleep anyway), ending them at 3, 4 and 5. Have dedicated shcool buses, if necessary with a policeman or security guard on board to maintain discpline and order. Assign designated pickup and dropoff points on major traffic arteries, so Mom and Dad can drop the kids off at the collection point on the way to work and pick them up on the way back. It is not reaaly difficult to organise or execute.
It would also be nice if, in conjunction with that, we actually did have a real public transport system rather than the current abortion of private bus systems running (supposedly) routes they have paid a franchise fee for, employing in many cases drivers whose interests lay least with the lives and safety of their passengers. But, alas, the our polical climate leaves little room for putting that specific genie back in the bottle.
I agree wholeheartedly with you, John. The problem is that while the idea isn’t difficult to organize and execute, it’ll be difficult to monitor; school bus drivers are going to have to be quite different from the norm.
I love the way we imagine that Nassauvians are going to be leaving in droves to go to far-flung Family Islands. Some people who were born in those islands will return, yes; but as the expected exodus to Exuma has yet to happen, and as Freeporters are re-evaluating their commitment to that hurricane-lashed territory, I’m not anywhere near that optimistic.
The Idea that Nassau will be depopulated by out island anchor developments is odd but consider the Cuban population control method. This thought may well have evolved from the political exchange of ideas between our diplomats. Remember that Cubans cannot travel freely within their own country, nevermind travel outside the country. An Idea that our current Govenor General was a strong proponent of back in the day as a method to depopulate the capital island, but also as a method of political exile or isolation. One thing for sure, All those little general stores/power plants/water systems/medical clinics/mail boats that serve the rustic communities are going to need some serious funds to expand their operations in order to serve the population explosions that are supposedly going to occur.
A great idea, John
The major problem would be to get this government to put it in place.
On two occasions over the past several years I have heard a representative from consulting firms speak about their advice to government to alleviate our traffic problem. Unfortunately , this government has a habit of listening to advice then just ignoring it or proceed to do what they intended in the first place.
excellent idea, ive echoed it on a few occassions (with the help of “Bahamas lottery dollars” to fund the “new public service”) but starting school at 10 is too late more like 730 8 and 830 the early you start the better youll be…