Essequibo Coast men fined $500,000 for drunk driving, traffic offences

Two men were fined a combined $500,000 after appearing in court on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), for several traffic offences, including driving while over the legal alcohol limit. Twenty-three-year-old taxi driver, Ian Fordyce of Benn Street, Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, was charged with driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit.

The offence occurred on March 2 at Charity Public Road. The charge was laid 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. Fordyce appeared at the Charity Magistrate’s Court on Monday before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir. The charge was read to him and he pleaded guilty. He was fined $200,000, with a default sentence of six months imprisonment if the fine is not paid. In a separate matter, 37-year-old labourer Lionel Henry of Capoey Lake, Essequibo Coast, was charged with dangerous driving, driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, driving without a licence, and breach of insurance.

The offences were committed on February 3 at Queenstown Public Road, Essequibo Coast. Henry appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir, where he pleaded guilty to all charges after they were read to him. For dangerous driving, he was fined $50,000 or three months’ imprisonment in default. For driving while over the legal alcohol limit, he was fined $200,000 or six months’ imprisonment in default. He was also fined $10,000 for driving without a licence or two weeks’ imprisonment in default and $40,000 for breach of insurance or two months’ imprisonment in default.
The total fines imposed on Henry amounted to $300,000.