The commanding officer for the St Thomas Police Division says truck operators in the parish caught overloading with aggregate could soon face arrest on the spot. The warning comes amid growing fears that debris-covered roads are becoming death traps for motorists.

It was delivered during Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation where councillors and police raised alarm over the increasing number of crashes linked to aggregate spilling from heavily loaded trucks travelling through sections of the parish.

Deputy Superintendent Rohan Ritchie, commanding officer of the division, said the situation had worsened to the point where traditional enforcement measures were no longer proving effective.

“The issue with the trucks carrying the aggregates is getting worse, and we don’t have what it takes, really, to seize a truck. But it has moved from sensitisation, because most times we prosecute them through the ticketing system or a summons. We are going to explore arresting people on the spot under the National Solid Waste Management Authority Act because the dislodging of aggregate is a form of littering. It litters the streets and it creates an issue for travellers,” Ritchie told the meeting.

He acknowledged that stronger enforcement could trigger resistance from truck operators, but argued that public safety has to take priority.

The police commander pointed to several problem areas across the parish, including the notorious stretch of roadway at Roach Gully in White Horses, where loose aggregate has repeatedly created dangerous driving conditions.

“I think on our log we have at least two accidents that are as a result of aggregate on the streets,” he said.

The issue sparked strong reactions from councillors, including Hubert Williams (People’s National Party, White Horses Division) who backed the proposed crackdown.

“Supe, I want to give you all the support in the world in regards to aggregate falling off these trucks and it is very important for us to stop and take a look. Let’s look at road fatalities in the parish versus that of homicides. If we nuh mind sharp, in plain Jamaican language, road fatalities can pass homicide,” Williams warned.

“It’s still life we are talking about. I know somebody mentioned two accidents because of the aggregate on the road, but there are about five that I know about. It is just sad because these truckers want to carry as much as they can carry on their trucks and it should not work like that. Trucks have limits in terms of the amount that they should carry,” he said.

Councillor Hubert Williams (People’s National Party, White Horses Division) speaks during Thursday’s meeting of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation. He backed a call for tougher action against truck drivers overloading their vehicles with aggregate.