BCCDA President denies drunk-driving claims after Mahaica accident

…says injured e-bike rider alive, stable

President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA), Samantha Reid, has denied claims circulating on social media which suggested that she under the influence of alcohol at the time of an accident involving an electric cycle at Fairfield Village, Mahaica on Friday. Reid, who is also Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sawa Investment Inc., has also refuted reports that the injured rider had died, saying that he is alive and receiving medical treatment. The injured man has been identified as 26-year-old Prakash Persaud of Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The accident occurred at about 05:30h on Friday, August 21, along the Fairfield Village Public Road as Reid was travelling towards Georgetown.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Reid said Persaud swerved into the path of her vehicle, resulting in the collision. She said he was subsequently taken to hospital for medical attention. Reid was driving a black, fully tinted 4×4 pickup, bearing registration number PAL 7721, at the time of the accident. Following the collision, Reid was taken into Police custody at the Mahaicony Police Station and subjected to a breathalyser test as part of the investigation. Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh has confirmed that Reid was below the prescribed alcohol limit when tested. She was subsequently placed on $100,000 cash bail pending further investigations.
Reid, meanwhile, has maintained that she had not consumed alcohol before the accident. While Reid’s statement described Persaud as being in stable condition, information surrounding the extent of his injuries indicates that he required further treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Persaud was initially taken to the Mahaicony Hospital before being transferred to GPHC, where further examinations reportedly revealed a broken collarbone and internal bleeding, among other injuries. He subsequently required emergency surgery. His family has raised concerns about his condition and the circumstances surrounding the handling of the accident. Meanwhile, Traffic Chief Singh has indicated that he is personally examining the matter after identifying what he described as apparent inconsistencies surrounding its handling.
“I am looking into this matter myself because there seemingly are some inconsistencies around it and there will be no inconsistencies when I am the Traffic Chief,” Singh said. Reid, in the statement on Sunday posited that she is fully cooperating with investigators following the accident and would continue to assist the Police as their investigation proceeds. She also expressed concern for Persaud’s well-being and wished him a full and speedy recovery. Police investigations into the accident are continuing.