Driver arrested for breaking barrier on Farm Access Road

A 48-year-old driver has been arrested following an accident that occurred on Saturday, around 11:00h on Farm Access Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The collision involved motor lorry, GZZ 6049, driven by Orin Dowden, and a metal arch owned by the Housing Ministry.

Reports indicate that Dowden was traveling westbound on Farm New Road with an extended ladder and bucket attached to the lorry’s tray. As he approached the intersection of Farm Access Road, he made a left turn, during which the top of the bucket struck the metal arch. The impact caused the arch to break and fall to the ground.
In response to the incident, police issued a notice of intended prosecution to Dowden. The lorry was impounded at the Farm Police Station.
This incident is not the first of its kind. Similar damage was reported several times along the new Mocha-to-Diamond bypass road on the EBD two years ago. Fixed steel barriers were established to prevent heavy-duty vehicles from using the road, but at least two barriers were destroyed, including the one at the Mocha Entranceway and another near the Farm Access Road. In both cases, noticeable damage was observed, with the barrier at the entranceway even leaning.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had issued a stern warning during the official commissioning of the road in December 2021, emphasising that individuals who damaged the barriers would face consequences.
“This road is designed for a specific category of vehicles…the big trucks, you will see barriers and if you think it is your responsibility to take down the barriers because you want to break the law, there will be consequences and you will face the consequences,” President Ali stated.
The new bypass road has been crucial for easing congestion on the EBD corridor, providing an essential alternative route for commuters and workers who previously spent hours in traffic.
Last year, the Government began charging and fining individuals responsible for the destruction of public property. The Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers had emphasised that statutory authorities are committed to recovering compensation for damages and have implemented various measures to address reckless behaviour and protect public infrastructure.
This was due to a separate incident, where the driver of a car involved in a collision that damaged the Eccles/Haags Bosch roundabout was ordered to pay the state €2.1 million for emergency repair costs. The AG Chambers noted that billions of dollars are spent annually to repair public property damaged by irresponsible actions, highlighting the importance of stringent measures to deter such behaviour.