Stronger system needed at GRA to stop revoked licences from being reissued – Traffic Chief

As the Guyana Police Force (GPF) works diligently to crack down on reckless behaviour on the nation’s roadways, Traffic Chief Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh has called for improved systems at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to ensure that drivers whose licences have been revoked are prevented from obtaining their documents again within the specified timeframe.
In light of the increasing recklessness on Guyana’s roadways, President Dr Irfaan Ali last month announced that law enforcement officials will be moving to suspend the licences of drivers who have been caught speeding more than three times along the Heroes Highway.
In an interview with Guyana Times on Monday, Traffic Chief Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh provided an update on the enforcement of this measure, noting that his department has been suspending drivers’ licences prior to the Commander in Chief’s order.
“Those measures would have been enforced daily prior to and even after the instructions of the Commander in Chief… Suspensions have taken place and yes, based on the instructions of the president, we have been enforcing as far as we can daily and even by night to ensure that we call what you deem to be the errant use of the road by some drivers.”
He revealed that 18 drivers’ licences were suspended prior to the Head of State’s announcement last month. Moreover, the traffic chief noted that based on the severity of the offences, suspensions can last from 4 months up to 2 years. However, he explained that mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure that there are no loopholes within the system when drivers licences have been revoked.
“One would always like to accuse the police to say that the system is porous. Today, my licence is revoked in region two, and I go right back to another region with a different address, and I can obtain a licence. A mechanism is in place and has to be strengthened to prevent any such wherefore, when one is revoked, disqualified and or suspended, that information is circulated widely among the police and to the Guyana Revenue Authority to ensure that there is no slippage or in any way that the system could be beaten for the benefit of a person who has been revoked, disqualified and or suspended.”
Additionally, the traffic chief emphasised that his department continues to work around the clock to ensure safety on the roadways. He called for heightened law enforcement for traffic violations outside of speeding.
“Our focus cannot only be lorries and public transportation and speeding. It’s all of the offences. So, it’s not discretionary upon us to overlook what one does, referencing all the types of offences, maintenance of tires or anything that opposes road safety, we can’t overlook those just for the sake of speeding and faulty parking on the road.”
Meanwhile, in November Guyana Times had reported that 99 people lost their lives in fatal accidents so far for the year 2024 when compared to 148 in 2023.
In addition, 263 serious accidents, 366 minor accidents, and 1039 damage accidents were recorded thus far for 2024 bringing the total number to 1767 compared to 2491 last year.
As part of a stepped-up effort to reduce traffic violations, the force has issued around 60,000 tickets this year, totaling an astounding $400 million in traffic fines.
Only recently, the Government had already made amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act as well as the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill to toughen up the penalties for drunk drivers – and the bars that serve them. Among other things, the legislative changes make causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter.
The penalty for driving while over the legally allowed limit of alcohol in the blood system has been changed from a $7500 fine to now $200,000, and the sentence from 12 months to 24 months. The penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle has been increased from $30,000 to $60,000 fine and 12 months’ imprisonment to now $200,000 fine for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders.