Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has given the go-ahead to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to commence the process by which deaf persons could become drivers.
In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Public security said the process will be part of a Pilot Programme in ‘A’ Division, which covers the Georgetown and East Bank Region. Six persons have been identified to participate in the theoretical and practical Drivers Examination, the same process any other person goes through to get a licence.
This agreement was reached during a meeting between the Minister, the National Commission on Disability and the Deaf Association of Guyana.
The issuances of driver’s licence to deaf drivers will only be for private and not commercial vehicles.
This is given the present infrastructural development and culture of driving on Guyana’s roadways, the Ministry stated.
The meeting followed a protest on February 18 by a number of deaf citizens who demanded the right to drive.
The Deaf Association of Guyana staged a picketing exercise in front of the Ministry of Public Security on Brickdam, Georgetown demanding that the Government repeal the law which prevents deaf persons from driving in Guyana as they believe it is a violation of their human rights.
The Pilot Programme is one of the recommendations agreed to by Cabinet to facilitate the issuance of Driver’s permit to persons who are hearing impaired.
Other recommendation includes a rigorous National Awareness Campaign for the general population.
