National PTA joins call for traffic safety measures at school of fallen student
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) said today that it supports the call made by Principal of the Victor Dixon High School, Orchid Smith, for safety measures to be implemented around the school where 14-year-old Amelia Willis was heading when she was killed after being hit by a taxi.
The incident took place last week.
In a statement signed by President Everton Hannam, the NPTAJ said it was calling on authorities to speedily implement necessary safety measures to ensure the continued safety of children, including a speed limit, a school zone, and a pedestrian crossing.
While expressing condolences to the parents, the friends and families, and the school community, the organisation implored parents to ensure children were fully informed of necessary road safety precautions. It also implored transport operators to exercise due caution when traversing school zones.
Following the tragic death of Willis, director of public relations and communication in the Ministry of Transport and Mining, Vando Palmer, yesterday said that ministry officials would visit Manchester today to see what “traffic calming” measures can be implemented to make the May Day/ Manchester Road intersection safer.
Palmer said that the National Works Agency and the Jamaica Constabulary Force will be partnering with the ministry on the initiative.