Police urge motorists, businesses to cooperate amid Georgetown traffic challenges

With traffic congestion continuing to challenge motorists in Georgetown, police officers across multiple divisions have called on the public to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure safer and smoother roads.
Speaking on a recent televised Episode of Road Saftey and You, Sgt. Louis Browne, stationed at Regional Division 4A (Georgetown) and attached to the Brickdam Police Station Traffic Department, highlighted the unique challenges his team faces in Central Georgetown.
“Basically, the traffic department at Brickdam – we control Central Georgetown, where we know that the traffic situation there on a daily basis is very, very busy,” he said. “Due to the volume of traffic there, it is more accident-prone than … 4B, 4C, and the other districts. But we are working to mitigate against accidents, obstructions, and all these things.
Sgt. Browne appealed for public cooperation. “Members of the public, we are pleading with them to work hand in hand with the police. Ever so often, we have persons stopping, obstructing the traffic, which would cause a major congestion in Georgetown. Central Georgetown is very busy. You come to do your business, stop properly to the corner of the road, work hand in hand with the police so that we can have a smooth flow, they can get about their business, and everybody would be happy.”
Meanwhile, Inspector Peter John, of Regional Division 4B (East Bank Demerara) and attached to the Madewini Police Outpost, emphasised the importance of planning ahead, particularly for airport-bound travellers.
“From time to time, the traffic would be really congested, but my ranks normally control in the field as to managing the traffic so that we can get a free flow at all times,” he said. “I would like to plead to the public so that they could leave like two to three hours before the check-in time, or before their flight, so that they could catch a flight. It’s not due to the police stopping them, but it’s due to the congestion of traffic heading to the airport.”
He also advised motorists picking up relatives to allow sufficient time to traverse heavily trafficked routes.
“For both ways, if you’re going to pick up relatives, or if you’re going to drop off to catch a flight, you need to ensure that you give yourself enough working time to traverse that east bank carriageway.”

Ongoing construction challenges
On the other hand, Sgt. Maurice Smith, stationed at the Sparendaam Police Station in Regional Division 4C (East Coast Demerara), highlighted the impact of ongoing construction on traffic flow.
“Our district covers from Success all the way to the Industry arch. However, the traffic situation within the Sparendaam Station District is a bit tedious, I would say, in the morning hours, due to the East Coast Corridor being a main access point that receives traffic all the way from Berbice and other locations, from Region 5, Region 6, persons working their way into Georgetown. However, we’re experiencing a heavy buildup of traffic due to ongoing construction work on the railway embankment.”
Sgt. Smith explained the systems in place to manage congestion. “At seven hours, with directions from our traffic officer, we would commence a lane, which would commence from the Laboone Intention (LBI) Public Road, all the way to Ogle Highway. We would have ranks placed at strategic points… controlling the flow of traffic, vehicles entering and exiting the toward lane. We would also have additional motorcyclists roguing those third lanes to ensure that we don’t have persons overtaking or undertaking the line of traffic that would cause an obstruction.”
He also issued a stark warning to commuters about unsafe driving practices.

Unsafe, inconsiderate practices
“A vehicle overtaking on the inside, which would be the path where the pedestrians should be walking, that is very dangerous. However, due to the system being put in place by our government to catch those drivers breaching the toward lane, it is a good implementation. And it is causing a lot of drivers to be on the alert. Passengers travelling in public transportation, a word of caution: speak to the driver, speak up, because your life is at risk. Your life is important, and don’t sit down and accept lawlessness or substandard behaviour. Speak up because if you speak up, at least you might be saving not only your life but also other lives.”
The officers also addressed challenges posed by business operations and illegal parking. Sgt. Smith noted, “During the Christmas period, we would find that you have a larger volume of traffic, especially along Regent Street. Now, what we do on a yearly basis, we go around to the different business owners along Regent Street. We sensitise them. Yes, you want to keep parking for your customers, but it’s not lawful for you to take market signs and place it along the roadway so that you can reserve spots. The road is for everyone.”
He further warned motorists about obstructing articulated vehicles. “Parking a vehicle on a turn is very dangerous. Around that area, we have a lot of articulated vehicles traversing. If a lorry comes to negotiate a turn and a vehicle is parked there, it can cause an accident and a buildup of traffic.”
The program also highlighted efforts to enforce vehicle regulations. Sgt. Smith explained that trucks found violating parking rules are actively managed.
“That truck would be on the road on a daily basis. Once the ranks working on that truck find persons parked illegally, they would be clamped. The rider issued a ticket. If they run a sign, they would be signed a document, taken to the station, signed a document, and given a date for court.”
Throughout the program, police reiterated that public cooperation, patience, and compliance with traffic regulations are essential to prevent accidents and congestion.