Where’s the planning?May 20, 2011Dear Sir,Like everyone else who lives east of the Causeway (or visited the airport this week) I find W&E’s public apology very hollow. What happened this week with the traffic was nothing short of disastrous and was clearly a lack of foresight and planning. How W&E’s management would undergo this kind of road works at the busiest time of the year for the airport (and tourism) is baffling.Unfortunately this is just one more example of poor planning. Two weeks ago, when Marsh Folly Road was initially closed to traffic it was clear that the Police and the buses were unaware (I heard a police officer and multiple bus drivers state this) and the resulting traffic jams were extensive.This lack of planning is not limited to W&E. We have heard how the changes to the bus and ferry schedules have caused problems across the Island; particularly in Dockyard when the cruise ships are in town. I guess I need to state the obvious; if you have 2,000 passengers disembarking you should make sure you have enough transportation for 2,000 passengers (and the rest of the users of public transportation between Dockyard and Hamilton). If you can’t provide transportation for 2,000 passengers, don’t contract with cruise ships that hold 2,000 passengers. Of course comments like, “if you have a problem talk to management”, only compounds the issue (although I could appreciate the feeling of being over-whelmed).The $900,949,000 question (readers may want to review the Budget Statement for this one) is when are these decision-makers are going to be held accountable. Government has a staggering operating budget but still has a problem with some of the basic functions that must take place on a day-to-day basis to keep this Island running smoothly.KENT SMITHSt. George’s