Licences for ‘causing death’ accused to be suspended

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has declared that drivers who are on trial for charges such as causing death and dangerous driving will have their licences suspended, pending the outcome of the court case.

Minister Ramjattan made this announcement at the launch of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2017-2019 on Wednesday morning at the Pegasus Hotel, where several measures were touted to reduce the country’s road carnage.
One of the actions which Ramjattan said will tackle the recklessness and carelessness on the roadways is the suspension of the licences of those errant drivers who are on trial for those charges.
“I have started the process that if you are charged with causing death by dangerous driving, that we are now going to under the Section where the Minister has the power, to disqualify those charged during the period of awaiting their trial from driving; so we do a period of suspension,” he explained.
The Public Security Minister opined that he is certain this move will have a positive effect on the behaviour of road users, particularly drivers.
“The policy now is that once you’re charged with dangerous driving, you will be disqualified, and I think rightfully so, during that period and up until your trial… It will take you off the road, it is a penalty in a sense but it is in accordance with the law… And even if you’re acquitted, well then too bad,” Ramjattan noted.
On the other hand, the Public Security Minister pointed out that while the laws allow Magistrates to disqualify those drivers who are convicted of these charges, it is often not done. To this end, Ramjattan noted that the laws may have to be amended to make this a compulsory imposition.
“We might have to start making mandatory, for purposes of causing death by dangerous driving convictions, disqualification… Although disqualification is a penalty that could be inflicted, normally if someone is found guilty of cause of death by dangerous driving, Magistrates would give a fine and/or a sentence of imprisonment but then no disqualification after the imprisonment,” the Minister stated.
The National Road Safety Action Plan 2017-2019 is a collaborative effort launched by the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) and the Public Security Ministry.
Delivering a presentation on the two-year Action Plan, Traffic Chief Dion Moore highlighted the need for a multistakeholder approach in order for the project to be effective.
“Without all of the stakeholders working together then there would be lots of problems, lots of divided sections and lots of pulling and tugging without lots of results to achieve (the action plan),” Moore outlined.
While the main causes of road fatalities were identified as speeding and drunk driving, Chairman of GNRSC Denis Pompey pointed out that local law enforcement are ill-equipped to test drivers for drug use. This, he noted, includes both illicit and prescriptive drugs.
On the issue of policing, concerns were also raised by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan of the integrity of Police Officers in charge of maintaining law and order on the roadways.
“It is in this regard, that we bring to bear the integrity of our traffic authorities on the road to carry out their duties with intelligence and integrity that will help to make an impact,” Bulkan stated.
Nevertheless, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine in his presentation pointed out that the Force has taken various steps to ensure that capable persons are placed behind the wheels. One such move he named was having representatives from the Cops and Faith Network to invigilate the licensing examinations.
“The examination room and the invigilators are persons from the religious fraternity and the marking of the papers are even now done by civilian persons from that fraternity,” Ramnarine stated.
“We have taken it a stage further in collaboration with the Guyana Revenue Authority, that is to say, every certificate of competence issued by a certifying officer of the country, has to be verified by the Traffic Chief who sends a report to the Commissioner and who collaborates with the GRA and that’s the way forward to strengthen the package.”
Moreover, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson in his remarks told stakeholders that their efforts in ensuring road safety are important but in the same breath underscored the need for promoting road safety education.
“We’re setting the stage for Guyana to approach road safety in the next two years; I urge you not to let this action plan be another stack of printed pages taking up desk space. I also hope that the action plan addresses not just accidents and reducing them but also gives consideration to the safety and the wellbeing of our people,” Patterson urged.
It was reported that as of April 30, 2017 some 38 road deaths have been recorded, 28 of which are said to be caused by speeding and drunk driving. (Vahnu Manikchand)