A security guard and a well-known tailor from Perseverance on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), died moments after falling off the e-bike he was riding on Saturday.
The dead man has been identified as Lochan Sookdeo. He was reportedly on his way to work at Jagmohan’s wharf in Vilvoorden, Essequibo when he met his demise.
According to family members, Lochan left home around 16:00h in good spirits but shortly after, they received the news that he had fallen off his e-bike.
Dead: Lochan Sookdeo
As relatives arrived at the scene, they found the man lying motionlessly with blood oozing from his nostril. He was picked up and taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The circumstances surrounding his death are still unknown but Guyana Times understands that the man suffered from hypertension. A post-mortem will determine the cause of death.
Only recently, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) announced that owners of electric bikes must register their cycles to comply with the recent amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act.
These amendments subject electric bikes to the same regulations as motorcycles, aiming to address the rising number of road fatalities and incidents involving e-bikes.
Authorities have also expressed concerns about the misuse of e-bikes, with children and individuals unaware of traffic laws often using them on roadways. Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn emphasised the need for updated laws to address the use of e-bikes, given their increasing availability and affordability.
Startling statistics reveal that 11 people lost their lives and 14 others were injured while using e-bikes from 2021 to the present. Last year alone, seven electric bike-related road fatalities were recorded in Guyana, with a few more already occurring in 2023.
In response to the situation, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been proactive in educating road users about the recent amendments to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, specifically regarding the regulation of e-bikes.
