4 drivers fined more than $855,000 in Essequibo traffic cases

Four drivers were fined $855,500 after appearing before the Charity and Anna Regina Magistrates’ Courts on a series of traffic offences, including drunk driving, driving without insurance, and other breaches of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act. At the Charity Magistrate’s Court on May 18, Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir heard matters against 32-year-old miner Sherwin Benjamin of Charity Squatting Area, Essequibo Coast. Benjamin pleaded guilty to driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, driving without a licence, and breach of insurance.

The offences occurred on April 13 along the Charity Public Road and were charged under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Chapter 51:02 and the Motor Vehicle Insurance Third-Party Risk Act Chapter 51:03.
Benjamin was fined $200,000 for the breath alcohol offence, $30,000 for driving without a licence, and $30,000 for breach of insurance. The latter two offences carried default sentences of three months’ imprisonment. He paid a total of $260,000 in fines. Also appearing before the Charity Magistrate’s Court was 35-year-old businessman Rajit Daljit of New Road, Essequibo Coast. Daljit faced multiple charges stemming from an incident on April 20 at Charity Public Road.
The charges included failure to provide a name and address, failure to wear a seatbelt, failure to display an identification mark at the rear of the vehicle, failure to produce a driver’s licence, defective brake lights, a defective indicator, and poor maintenance of a motor vehicle. Daljit pleaded guilty to the charges. He was fined $10,000 for failing to provide his name and address, $7,500 for not wearing a seatbelt, $150,000 for failing to display an identification mark, and $10,000 for failing to produce a driver’s licence. The defective brake light, defective indicator, and maintenance offences resulted in reprimands and discharges. The matters relating to uninsured and unlicensed motor vehicles were withdrawn.

However, Daljit pleaded not guilty to the charge of operating an uncertified motor vehicle. He was granted $20,000 bail, and the matter was adjourned to June 29 for trial. Total fines imposed amounted to $195,500.
Meanwhile, at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on May 21, 52-year-old carpenter Sasenarine Chandrika of Windsor Castle, Essequibo Coast, pleaded guilty to driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The offence occurred on May 13 at Henrietta Public Road. Chandrika was fined $200,000 – or six months’ imprisonment in default. In a separate matter, 49-year-old construction worker Godwin Shepherd of Danielstown, Essequibo Coast, also pleaded guilty to driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The offence occurred on May 13 at Windsor Castle Public Road.
Shepherd was fined $200,000 or six months’ imprisonment in default.
Teacher Andrea Pryce, 26, of Charity Back Street, Essequibo Coast, appeared before the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on May 20 charged with refusing to provide a breath specimen for a breath alcohol test. The alleged offence occurred on May 17 at Richmond Public Road. Pryce pleaded not guilty and was granted $200,000 bail. The matter was adjourned to September 9 for trial. Farmer Leon Daymeion De Silva, 48, of the Essequibo Coast, was also charged with driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit following an incident on May 21 at Cotton Field Public Road. De Silva pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Mohabir on May 21. He was granted $200,000 bail, and the matter was adjourned to October 1 for trial.