As the Guyana Police Force (GPF) works diligently to crack down on reckless behaviour on the nation’s roadways, Traffic Chief Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh has called for improved systems and stronger collaboration among agencies including the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to ensure that drivers whose licences have been revoked are prevented from obtaining their documents again within the specified timeframe.
In light of the increasing recklessness on Guyana’s roadways, President Dr Irfaan Ali last month announced that law enforcement officials will be moving to suspend the licences of drivers who have been caught speeding more than three times along the Heroes Highway.
In an interview with this publication on Monday, Traffic Chief Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh provided an update on the enforcement of this measure, noting that his department has been suspending drivers’ licences prior to the Commander in Chief’s order.
“Those measures would have been enforced daily prior to and even after the instructions of the Commander in Chief…Suspensions have taken place and yes, based on the instructions of the president, we have been enforcing as far as we can daily and even by night to ensure that we call what you deem to be the errant use of the road by some drivers.”
He revealed that 18 drivers’ licences were suspended prior to the Head of State’s announcement last month.
Moreover, the traffic chief noted that based on the severity of the offences, suspensions can last from 4 months up to 2 years. However, he explained that mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure that there are no loopholes within the system when drivers licences have been revoked.
“One would always like to accuse the police to say that the system is porous. Today, my licence is revoked in region two, and I go right back to another region with a different address, and I can obtain a licence. A mechanism is in place and has to be strengthened to prevent any such (situation), when one is revoked, disqualified and or suspended, that information is circulated widely among the police and to the Guyana Revenue Authority to ensure that there is no slippage or in any way that the system could be beaten for the benefit of a person who has been revoked, disqualified and or suspended.”
Additionally, the traffic chief emphasised that his department continues to work around the clock to ensure safety on the roadways. He called for heightened law enforcement for traffic violations outside of speeding.
“Our focus cannot only be lorries and public transportation and speeding. It’s all of the offences. So, it’s not discretionary upon us to overlook what one does, referencing all the types of offences, maintenance of tires or anything that opposes road safety, we can’t overlook those just for the sake of speeding and faulty parking on the road.”
