Traffic officials look at road lawlessness link to improperly issued driver’s licences

Traffic officials are looking at a possible link between the widespread lawlessness on Guyana’s roadways and the improper acquisition of driver’s licences, warning that many dangerous driving practices point to motorists who may not have gone through the required testing process. The issue was raised during the televised road safety programme Road Safety and You by the Chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), Earl Lambert. He raised concerns about drivers engaging in reckless behaviour that suggests a lack of formal training.
“We are witnessing a lot of lawless behaviour on the road,” the programme’s host said, adding, “You see the kind of lawlessness, and you wonder if those persons went through the driving test and if they did the right thing,” he said. Lambert recalled that late last year, His Excellency the President issued an ultimatum after authorities discovered that some individuals had obtained driver’s licences without following the proper procedures. “They would have been told that they need to surrender those licences and go back over the process; make sure you do the right thing and you get your licence,” Lambert recalled. Last month, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali issued a firm directive to address irregularities in Guyana’s driver licensing system after a comprehensive Government audit uncovered significant discrepancies in how licences were being issued.

Audit alarm
The announcement was made during the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Traditional Christmas Breakfast, where the President revealed that new technology-driven post-audit procedures had exposed anomalies in the licensing process. The audit, conducted in collaboration with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Public Service and the Government Efficiency & Implementation Unit, used integrated digital systems to trace the entire licensing chain. Authorities were able to track who passed the theoretical examination, who was certified for the practical test and who was ultimately issued a licence. This revealed glaring mismatches, such as far more practical certificates and licences being issued than the number of theory exam passes, indicating licences were being obtained without completion of all required steps.
President Ali warned that individuals found to have obtained licences through irregular or improper means would be given six weeks to surrender those licences and re-enter the legal process, which requires passing both theory and practical examinations. After that deadline – set to expire around January 20, 2026 – the Government said it would publish the names of those affected, suspend the licences and pursue legal action and prosecution against offenders.
The President also made it clear that the move was part of a wider effort to strengthen institutional integrity, accountability and transparency within Government systems. He emphasised that with modernised digital tracking, the authorities now have detailed records showing where irregularities occurred and are better equipped to correct them and deter future abuses in the licensing process.
Highlighting examples of unsafe practices, the Chairman of NRSC noted, “People are overtaking on these straight lines, solid lines… we call it undertaking. The traffic chief is speaking a lot on that, with the cameras picking up the defaulters.”

Procedures
Sergeant Patterson, the licensed and certified officer for Region 4A (Georgetown), explained during the programme that obtaining a driver’s licence is a structured process involving both theoretical and practical examinations. “You must undergo a theoretical phase and a practical phase in order to qualify for a driver’s licence,” he said. He explained that applicants must first apply online for the theoretical examination, which is conducted at the Police Building at Eve Leary, and only after passing can they proceed to obtain a provisional licence and apply for the practical test. “There is a two-stage process,” Sergeant Patterson said. “There is a stick test, and then there is a road test, and considering that you would have passed both phases, then we move ahead, and the certificate of competence would be issued.”
Meanwhile, Lambert stressed that motorists should avoid illegal shortcuts when acquiring their licences. “You don’t have to buy a licence; you don’t have to bribe anyone to get your licence,” he said. “It is better for you to go the right way and make sure you do the right thing. He further noted that compliance with licensing requirements could play a key role in reducing accidents, stating, “I think that we can slow down our accident rate on the road if we do the right thing.”
Police officials continue to urge motorists to ensure their licences were lawfully obtained, warning that indiscipline on the nation’s roads will remain under close scrutiny as enforcement measures intensify.