Cattle owner fined for allowing animals to stray along ECD

A 54-year-old cattle owner was on Friday fined a total of $30,000 after pleading guilty to three counts of allowing his animals to stray along public roadways on the East Bank of Demerara.
Denesh Rohit of Garden of Eden, EBD, appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Diamond Magistrates’ Courts.
Rohit was charged with three counts of suffering animals to stray (cows), contrary to Section 28(1)(a) of the Road Act, Chapter 51:01.
The offences were committed within the Prospect Young Professional Housing Scheme, Herstelling Housing Scheme, and Farm Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

After the charges were read to Rohit, he entered guilty pleas to all three counts. Magistrate Bess subsequently imposed a fine of $10,000 on each charge, amounting to a total of $30,000.
He was also cautioned by the court and warned to take the necessary steps to properly secure his cattle to prevent them from straying onto public roadways.
Only a few months ago, the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department had urged cattle owners to properly secure their animals after several cows were struck and killed on the East Bank Public Road.
Traffic Officer of Division 4B, Inspector Michael Ramdas, warned that stray livestock pose serious risks to motorists, particularly on highways where vehicles travel at high speeds. He called on owners to pen or pasture their animals and expressed concern that some are not branding their cattle, making identification difficult in cases of theft or accidents.
Officials cautioned that collisions with stray animals could result in serious injury or death, especially for motorcyclists. Chairman of the National Road Safety Council, Earl Lambert, also emphasised that road safety is a shared responsibility and urged both motorists and livestock owners to take preventative measures. Authorities are encouraging the public to report stray animals as enforcement continues along high-risk corridors.