Stricter penalties being examined for ticket fee defaulters – Min Benn

– road safety to be incorporated into schools’ curriculum

The Home Affairs Ministry will be engaging the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement stricter penalties for road users who have not paid their ticketing fees.

This was revealed by Minister Robeson Benn, who related that the move to introduce a robust framework of stringent penalties is necessary, especially since there is an urgent need to hold individuals accountable for traffic offences.
He made the statement on Monday during the launch of the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week, which is being observed from May 15 to 21 under the theme “Rethink Mobility”.
“Many of them have a large number of tickets I believe accumulated for which they haven’t paid…I am going to enjoy a conversation with the Guyana Revenue Authority for persons after a certain number of tickets which haven’t been paid; we’ll not only suspend their licences but hold their vehicles,” Minister Benn disclosed.

The Guyana Police Force will be procuring an additional 300 wheel clamps to detain vehicles obstructing the flow of traffic. Passengers are also being urged to speak out against errant drivers.
“If we jump in the minibus, we are fearful to say you’re going too fast…we need to speak out some more and to stand our ground in relation to when we use public or private transport. We have to have the courage to speak out,” the Home Affairs Minister emphasised.
He said the country must work towards bringing more awareness on the issue at all levels and has assured that his Ministry will work harder to end road carnage.
“We have to get together on the issue to save lives and to avoid the distress, the deaths, the inability to work and provide for your family anymore…we cannot continue in this way,” he pointed out.
In addition, Traffic Chief (ag) Superintendent Dennis Stephen revealed that in five years, some 147 pedestrians lost their lives, and another 11 persons have lost their lives while on electric bicycles, in two years.
From January 2023, a total of 16 cyclists inclusive of pillion riders lost their lives. The Home Affairs Ministry has distributed 300 helmets to the Traffic Department to share with cyclists, to ensure their protection.

“I am imploring all road users to obey the rules of the road, look out for the vulnerable group, persons above age who cross the road slowly, drive within the safe speed limit, look out and observe,” the Traffic Chief urged.
Meanwhile, several teachers across Guyana will benefit from a train the trainers programme through the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), allowing them to incorporate road safety into their teaching sessions.
The initiative is geared towards increasing awareness of the importance of road safety at the nursery, primary and secondary levels.
This was disclosed by GNRSC’s Coordinator, Ramona Doorgen, during an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Monday.
Doorgen explained that the undertaking is part of a three-component training programme that targets teachers, Police officers and councillors from the various road safety councils in every region.
Modules have already been developed with assistance from teachers and other relevant stakeholders.
“Whether it’s a private school, we would like to see every teacher in the country trained. It’s going to bring awareness to the kids, they will have to actually go and do research [on road safety],” the coordinator pointed out.
Already, 61 teachers of Linden, Region 10, have completed the programme. Similar sessions will be held in Region Six from May 19.
“We have to train the teachers to integrate road safety into the curriculum, but then we have to train the Police officers and the Road Safety Council, how to monitor and evaluate the programme,” Doorgen further explained.
This is among several collaborations aimed at reducing and eventually ending road carnage.