Dear Editor,
I read with concern, the recent public statement issued by Ms. Samantha Reid, President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Industry, regarding the horrific accident that occurred on August 21st, 2026 on the Fairfield Village Public Road in Mahaica.
While I appreciate her willingness to come forward to dispel rumours regarding intoxication and the false claims of a fatality, her statement raises more questions than it answers, and her attempt to place the sole blame squarely on the cyclist (“the cyclist swerved into the path of her vehicle”) appears to be a blatant attempt to absolve herself of all responsibility.
The fact of the matter, every story has three sides, her side, the other side and the TRUTH and until we can gather the information from the other side, what she is saying is nothing else but her opinion which cannot be considered as facts.
Ms. Reid insists the accident occurred at 5:30 a.m. At that hour, public roads, especially in rural areas like Mahaica, have limited lighting and are often frequented by persons on bicycles and electric cycles. This demands the highest level of vigilance and defensive driving from those operating heavy vehicles. And she was driving a very heavy vehicle and that is heavily tinted. By the way, what happened to Minister Walrond’s tint campaign? Le Repentir Cemetery?
If a vehicle collides with a cyclist, resulting in injuries severe enough to require hospitalization and specialized medical care (including internal bleeding), the laws of physics dictate that a significant force was involved. Ms. Reid has yet to address the crucial question of speed. Was she driving at a safe speed for the road conditions at that hour? And what happened to her application of the brakes, if she was driving at a safe speed? There are many “inconsistencies” in the initial report from Ms. Reid, strongly suggest that the evidence may not align with her narrative of a sudden, unavoidable swerve. Let us reflect on the science.
On a partially lit road at 5.30 a.m., the safe speed is often lower than the posted limit because your headlight visibility is the primary limit, not the speed limit. The speed limit at the place of the accident is 50 mph and that is acceptable when there is full lighting; not partial lighting. If Ms Reid was driving at 40 mph, she was in a strong position to apply the brakes and avoid any collision within 160 ft. But if she was driving at 60 mph, the vehicle can only be brought to a stop after 303 ft, almost double the distance. So Ms Reid story is not adding up.
Traffic accidents are rarely the fault of just one party; whether it was excessive speed, a distraction, or a failure to properly observe the road, Ms. Reid must take responsibility for her share of the events that led to this young man’s suffering.
Leaders in the business community are expected to model responsibility and integrity. Instead of issuing a press release designed to protect her reputation and pre-emptively shift blame, Ms. Reid should be demonstrating humility, acknowledging the severe trauma inflicted on this young man, and waiting for the official police investigation to conclude without attempting to sway public opinion.
She may have passed the breathalyzer test, but passing a test does not clear her of negligence, nor does it erase the fact that a life is hanging in the balance because of an early morning collision on her watch.
Yours faithfully,
Lancelot Hyman
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