4 Essequibo Coast men face court on drunk driving, other traffic offences

Four men from the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam), appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court last week on several traffic offences under the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. Zaphnath Williams, 26, a construction worker of Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast, was charged with driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The offence allegedly occurred on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Anna Regina Public Road, Essequibo Coast.

The charge was instituted under Section 39A (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended by the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 17 of 2022. Williams appeared before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir, where the charge was read to him. He pleaded not guilty and was granted $200,000 bail. The case was adjourned to March 11. In a separate matter, Ganesh Dupan of Reliance, Essequibo Coast, also appeared before Magistrate Mohabir on last Wednesday. Dupan was charged with driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, contrary to Section 39A (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended. The offence occurred on February 6 and Dupan pleaded guilty and was fined $200,000 or, in default, three months’ imprisonment. Meanwhile, Kamraj Gildharie, 44, a security guard of Richmond Coconut Dam, Essequibo Coast, faced multiple charges stemming from an incident on November 15, 2025, at Reliance Public Road, Essequibo Coast. Gildharie was charged with being an unlicensed driver, refusing to provide a breath specimen for a breath alcohol test, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating an uncertified motor vehicle, and operating an unlicensed motor vehicle. The charges were laid under Sections 23(1), 39B (5), 3(1), 15, and 22(1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. When the matters were called, Gildharie pleaded guilty to the offences of unlicensed driver, uninsured motor vehicle and unlicensed motor vehicle. He was fined $30,000 for the unlicensed driver offence, with three months’ imprisonment in default; $40,000 for the uninsured motor vehicle offence, with three months’ imprisonment in default; and $10,000 for the unlicensed motor vehicle offence, with one month’s imprisonment in default. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of refusing to provide a breath specimen and was granted bail in the sum of $200,000. He was also granted bail in the sum of $10,000 for the charge of operating an uncertified motor vehicle. The matters were adjourned to March 17.
In another case, Govinash Persaud, 39, a secretary of Reliance, Essequibo Coast, was charged with driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The offence occurred on October 5, 2025, at Anna Regina Public Road, Essequibo Coast. The charge was laid under Section 39A(1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended by Act 17 of 2022. Persaud initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty when the matter was heard before Magistrate Mohabir. He was fined $200,000 or, in default, three months’ imprisonment.