Mottley signals action on ‘unsustainable’ vehicle growth

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has announced that national consultations will soon begin to address increasing traffic congestion across Barbados, warning that the island’s current rate of vehicle growth is unsustainable.

She made the disclosure on Monday evening during the ceremony to rename the St Patrick’s roundabout in honour of former Christ Church East MP Sir Richard Cheltenham, noting that the steady stream of vehicles passing throughout the event underscored the urgency of the issue.

“I don’t think a single minute has passed without traffic approaching the roundabout,” Mottley observed, describing it as a reflection of how dramatically the country has changed.

Pointing to figures shared in the recent presidential address, she said the number of vehicles on the island had climbed from approximately 40 000 half a century ago to about 180 000 today.

“It is unsustainable at this rate and requires a commitment on the part of the government,” she said.

The Prime Minister said the upcoming consultations will allow citizens from all walks of life to contribute to shaping long-term solutions as Barbados grapples with the growing strain on its road network.

“I have every confidence that the national consultations … will give Barbadians of all backgrounds the opportunity to be able to speak. But the one thing I do know is that public transport cannot be a luxury, but must be a basic right if this country is to function efficiently,” she said.

Mottley added that while road widening, overpasses and other traffic infrastructure will form part of the solution, the challenge extends beyond physical expansion.

She said the country must also have a broader conversation about how society and the economy are structured.

Mottley noted that one of the most important issues in this discussion is the role of public transportation.

(LG)