Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has issued a scathing rebuke to law enforcement officials. Calling for an immediate and aggressive crackdown on the illegal use of sirens and flashing lights by private individuals, he has declared, “The Police Force needs to do their job!”
Thundering his frustration over the failure of the Guyana Police Force to rein in lawbreakers who parade the country’s roadways with unauthorised emergency signals, he has slammed the culture of impunity that has allowed certain individuals to flaunt illegal sirens and flashing lights as status symbols, even as he recalled past instances when high-profile figures abused those privileges.
“How many times we spoke about this here? There is a statement out by the Government. In fact, the Opposition wanted to take a motion to the Parliament to say that we should ban the use by private people of these sirens and these flashing lights,” he declared.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
“[Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh] Mahipaul had drafted a motion. I criticized Mahipaul here by saying that, ‘Why should we go and discuss this motion when it’s already illegal?’. And we are public on this matter: we’ve been in the public domain as saying that the police need to arrest and take off these things from the vehicles. Pull them in!” Dr Jagdeo detailed.
In making these remarks during his weekly press conference last Thursday, Jagdeo declared that wealthy elites and politically-connected individuals have gotten away with such lawlessness for years.
Recalling incidents of well-known businessmen acting as though they were above the law by leading massive convoys of vehicles with sirens blaring and lights flashing, Jagdeo declared, “This obsession with symbols of authority needs to stop.”
Reminding the public that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has already taken action in regard to this type of lawless behaviour, by President Dr Irfaan Ali ordering the removal of illegal sirens from private vehicles, the Vice President made it clear that enforcement now lies in the hands of the Police Force, which he said must take immediate action to enforce that order.
“I recall one time the Attorney General said to me – coming down the East Bank – that he just passed a huge convoy of vehicles with flashing lights and sirens. It used to be the Mohameds, and I think that was one of the reasons why they’re not so pleased with us too, because the President gave instructions to remove all of that…,” Jagdeo detailed.
“The police should just do their work! They should just do their job!” he added.
The abuse of sirens and emergency lights, especially by private individuals and unauthorised entities, has become a growing concern.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had previously called for a tougher stance against the use of sirens and emergency lights by unauthorised persons.
“Emergency lights and sirens are prescribed for use by the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Police Force, and ambulances; however, recently, there has been increase in private vehicles bearing these (pieces of) equipment for the purpose of bypassing areas with congested traffic,” the GCCI had noted in July 2024.
Noting that although the police have a role to play, it is crucial that conditionalities be placed on importation of the mentioned equipment in order to prevent abuse, the GCCI had urged the Customs Authority to place restrictions on importation of lights and sirens, limiting access strictly to the agencies authorised to use them.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced, late last year, that Government would be updating laws to introduce provisions for the imposition of fines and the revocation of drivers’ licences for the illegal use of sirens and emergency lights on vehicles.
This decisive move reflects a much-needed effort to address a pervasive issue that has long undermined public trust, road discipline, and traffic order in the country.
Originally intended for use by emergency services such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles, these tools are essential for public safety. However, when used improperly, they create chaos on the roads, endangering lives and eroding the legitimacy of their intended purpose.
President Ali’s call for action remains not only timely, but also vital for restoring sanity and fairness on the roadways.
