18 minibus drivers awarded for being “champions of proper road usage”

A total of 18 minibus drivers across the country were on Wednesday recognised for displaying the utmost professionalism in plying their trade.

The drivers were awarded through the “Best Minibus Driver” competition, which was launched by the Home Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the National Road Safety Council in observance of National Road Week 2020.
More than 100 drivers from all 10 administrative regions in the country participated.
During the awards ceremony held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Coordinator of the Road Safety Council, Ramona Doorgen explained that the initiative was ultimately aimed at revamping the minibus culture in Guyana.
She noted that the competition would continue next year and would eventually be expanded to provide an incentive to minibus operators to be better road users.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn expressed similar sentiments, noting that “errant minibus operators define the culture on the road, and so, we thought that we had to identity those minibus operators and drivers who are a great example for what proper road usage should be.”
He said the drivers who have been awarded are considered “champions of proper road usage” and that they now have a responsibility to set the example for others.
Among those awarded are Dexter King from Region One (Barima-Waini); Ricardo Chester from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Inderjeet Latchman from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Daniel Ramcharran from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); John Karpen from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Kuldip Paray from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne); Keith Blair from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Ian Gonsalves from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); Thomas Hamilton from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and Leslie Jarvis from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
For minibus drivers to be awarded as “Best Driver” or place second in the various divisions, they were required to be compliant with the following rules and regulations of the competition. Drivers were required to: be in compliance with the Motor Vehicle and Traffic Act Chapter 51:02; have years of certification as a driver; be an accident-free driver; have a valid driver’s licence, and observe the 5Cs of driving.
Each “Best Driver” received a new set of tyres, and a “Best Driver” logo engraved on their buses while the second-place winners received 15 gallons of gas.