Police to crack down on alcohol sale at minibus parks

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be taking a strong stance against the sale of alcohol at the minibus and car parks in Georgetown in light of the spate of incidents that continues to plague the country’s roadways.
Some of the main contributing factors to the high rate of accidents on Guyana’s roadways are drunk driving and speeding. In response, local authorities will be rolling out a number of measures to clamp down on this practice.
As a result, the Guyana Police Force in collaboration with the National Road Safety Council will be conducting spot checks at various locations across the country to clamp down on businesses selling alcohol without a licence and to detect drivers who are under the influence.
At the Guyana Road Safety Council Forum 2023 on Friday, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn announced that special emphasis will be placed on the bus and car parks in Georgetown.
“We know what the behaviours are…drinking and driving, associated things at the Stabroek Market places where people are drinking Heineken and other things. Some perhaps are smoking and then jumping into the bus and driving…. we have people making it more difficult for the traffic management,” he said.
The Police’s efforts are focused on eliminating the dangerous practice of selling alcohol on minibus parks and ensuring that those responsible for causing harm on the roads are held accountable.

Heavy fines and possible jail time are among the consequences for those found to be in violation of the law. The Police Force has emphasised its determination to curb the sale of alcohol on minibus parks and to prevent accidents resulting from drunk driving.
“This situation cannot continue if we want to achieve less than 100 road deaths for this year again to make it the third year running…”, he said.
The crackdown on the sale of alcohol on minibus parks also reflects the Government’s commitment to public safety and the protection of its citizens. Over the years, officials have said that minibus parks are major hubs for transportation across the country, and their surroundings must be safe and secure for passengers, motorists, and pedestrians.
The Police’s efforts to address the issue will go a long way in ensuring that the country’s roads remain safe and free from the dangers of drunk driving. (G9)