Dear Editor,
On Saturday January 17, 2026, I observed a truck passing on the Rose Hall Town main road bearing the international radioactive trefoil symbol on its door. Although the vehicle appeared to be empty, the sight prompted me to reflect on the Guyanese public awareness and understanding of such symbols and their meaning.
As Guyana’s oil and gas and medical sectors continue to expand, so too will the associated use and transport of radioactive sources for well-logging, industrial radiography, and medical applications. Members of the public are now more likely to encounter en passant vehicles and containers bearing the radioactive symbol, yet many citizens are unfamiliar with its significance or with the proper response in the event of an incident.
I suggest that our Environmental Protection Agency and Radiation Safety and Security Board in collaboration with other relevant agencies, consider implementing a public education initiative. Such a campaign could:
Explain the meaning of the radioactive symbol and its use on vehicles and equipment;
Advise the public on what to do (and not to do) if they encounter such vehicles or in case of an accident; and
Highlight the safeguards and regulatory measures already in place to inform the public.
A short information campaign through schools, the media, or community outreach could go a long way toward strengthening radiation safety culture in Guyana as our industrial and medical landscape evolves.