Government to Monitor Truck Safety Compliance After Labour Day Death
The Antigua and Barbuda government has pledged to intensify monitoring of truck safety compliance at public events following the tragic death of a young woman during Labour Day celebrations earlier this week.
Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst confirmed that police will be asked to assess whether trucks involved in the May 6 event met legally mandated safety requirements, including the use of protective skirtings designed to prevent individuals from slipping beneath moving wheels.
“This is a mandatory regulation,” Hurst stated at Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing. “The failure to have the trucks’ wheels guarded by barriers is in fact a violation.”
The victim reportedly attempted to climb onto a moving truck after her son had boarded, despite being warned repeatedly by others not to do so. She fell while attempting to mount the vehicle and was fatally injured. A second young woman also sustained a leg injury in a separate incident during the same parade.
While expressing condolences to the families affected, officials acknowledged the difficulty in fully enforcing safety protocols in crowded environments such as Labour Day and Carnival celebrations, where thousands of revelers and multiple large vehicles are present.
“Even with security personnel on site, some individuals choose to ignore the rules,” Hurst said. “We deeply regret that something this tragic occurred.”
Mandatory safety skirtings were introduced following a similar fatal incident in 2016, but Hurst suggested that compliance may not have been universal in this year’s event. He did not confirm how many trucks were inspected prior to the parade or what enforcement mechanisms were in place on the day.
Cabinet has not yet announced any new legislation or penalties, but the matter remains under review. Officials also did not confirm whether the truck involved in the fatal incident would face any immediate sanctions.
The tragedy has renewed public calls for stricter oversight and better crowd control measures at large public gatherings, particularly those involving moving vehicles. Some members of the public have suggested mandatory registration, advance inspections, and more police oversight in future parades.
Hurst noted that while the government remains committed to maintaining vibrant cultural traditions, it must also balance that goal with the need to protect lives. “We want people to enjoy themselves, but safety must always be paramount.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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Talking about the cart before the horse!