With Guyana hosting the final leg of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the free flow of traffic has been disrupted and has resulted in the illegal use of sirens and flashing lights by those seeking a faster way out of a traffic jam.
And given that Guyana’s laws only allow for the Police Force, Fire Service and ambulances to use the sirens and flashing lights, the Traffic Department is now clamping down on its illegal use.
Traffic Chief (ag), Superintendent Mahendra Singh, told the News Room on Thursday that the Force has zero tolerance for the unauthorized use of these types of equipment.
He said once a private vehicle has been identified as using them, the driver is detained, the equipment is confiscated and the vehicle’s fitness could be revoked.
Superintendent Singh is not aware of permission being granted to any private vehicles to use the equipment.
During the cricket match at the Providence Stadium on Wednesday night, the traffic situation worsened in Georgetown and on the East Bank of Demerara and many drivers had to clear the way to allow a plethora of private and diplomatic vehicles with the sirens and flashing lights to pass.
In some cases, these private vehicles were being escorted by Police on motorcycles. The News Room understands that many of the private vehicles belong to government entities and ministries.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Singh said his department is doing its best to prevent the escalation in the use of these sirens.
“Having recognised this even before I even came to traffic, Police have been warned already to take the requisite course of action that on seeing these vehicles, the requisite action has to be taken that is to say, stop the driver, enquire as to why and proceed thereafter to have the vehicle examined by ta licensing and certifying officer,” he said.
In February this year, Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn revealed that the relevant laws will be tweaked to allow for diplomats and senior government functionaries to be exempted from the law preventing the use of flashing lights and sirens.
Benn said the illegality was allowed to happen because it was necessary to “do things on the flow to ensure people are safe.”
He said it is unfortunate that some stores now have the Police-type lights available for sale which has resulted in widespread misuse.
In November 2022, President Dr Irfaan Ali mandated Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken to enforce a clampdown against the unauthorised use of blue and red lights and sirens.
This instruction extended to government agencies, several public officials and also security companies that have abused the use of the lights and sirens.
The blue and red lights and sirens are to be used on police vehicles and other law enforcement personnel, but persons have been buying the equipment and using it to speed through traffic.
I know, just as well as many others, GUYANESE are smart and innovative people, unlike their counterparts in the Caribbean. Except of course, those few in between not being THAT smart.