THE EDITOR, Sir:
This is an open letter to our insurance companies. A few days ago, I was involved in a serious accident involving a herd of stray cows, resulting in serious damage to my motor car. As a child, I can remember a pound being in operation in my community of Buff Bay, and then, we did not have this problem of cows endangering our lives on the road. We now have large animals roaming our streets and highways and rampaging though our communities.
I think that anything that can be done to make our roads safer and so reduce the amount of motor vehicle accidents will have a positive impact on us the citizens and also on your business. As such, I think it would be a worthwhile venture for our insurance companies to consider partnering with the Government in reestablishing the pounding system.
In the same instant, you could consider using your influence to convince the Government to strengthen the punitive measure which flows from the negligent act of having animals endangering citizens' lives. For example, why shouldn't the owner of the cow that caused two deaths in Landowry, St. Ann, not be charged for manslaughter or dangerous destruction of property? The law could also make it mandatory that all large animals (cows, horses, donkeys, etc.) wear some sort of tag that can be used to identify the owner.
Playing a role in the reduction of the carnage on our roads will result in a win-win situation for both your business and the country in general, as while you will be assisting in making us safer, you will be enhancing the bottom-line of your business.
The present situation cannot be allowed to continue.
I am, etc.,
JEROME HENRY
14 Second Avenue,
Buff Bay P.O.,
Portland
