A significant traffic incident involving student transportation has ignited urgent discussions about road safety enforcement in Barbados. On Tuesday morning at approximately 8:30 a.m., emergency services responded to a collision between a private automobile and a public service minibus in the Ayshford area of St. Thomas, resulting in multiple injuries among young passengers.
According to official reports from the Barbados Fire Service, the accident involved seven individuals, including four students who sustained various injuries. Station Officer Elridge Straker confirmed the deployment of two fire tenders and seven fire officers to manage the situation. Sub Officer Henderson Nichols provided critical details regarding the victims, noting the involvement of a 16-year-old driver and a 13-year-old passenger in one vehicle, along with two additional children in the minibus who suffered facial injuries. Medical authorities confirmed that while several occupants required hospital transport for further assessment, none sustained life-threatening injuries.
The Ministry of Educational Transformation implemented immediate support measures following the incident. Chief Education Officer Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw dispatched secondary school division officers to provide assistance to affected students, with the ministry maintaining ongoing communication with law enforcement agencies regarding the investigation.
This incident has prompted strong reactions from public officials regarding transportation safety protocols. Former Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman emphasized the legal obligations of entities responsible for student transportation, stating that existing regulations require stricter enforcement. “The law books are clear with respect to how we treat deviance on the road and bad driving,” Blackman asserted during his nomination filing for the St. James North constituency. He advocated for demonstrating consequences through enforcement actions against those violating transportation laws.
Roy Raphael, Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport, visited the accident scene and appealed for increased vigilance among PSV operators, particularly when transporting children. This appeal comes against the backdrop of recent fatal road accidents in the region, highlighting growing concerns about passenger safety standards. The Ministry of Education has committed to continued collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Works and the Barbados Police Service to ensure proper adherence to student transportation regulations.