Driver hospitalised but will have to pay for destruction on new BJDRB – Nandlall says

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has made it clear that the government will pursue compensation from the driver who crashed into the median on the eastern approach road to the new Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge on Monday, causing damage to the structure.

Speaking during his Issues in the News commentary on Tuesday night, Nandlall said the matter is being investigated by the police and that the damage to public infrastructure is being assessed.

“The driver is hospitalised and some damage was done to the infrastructure,” Nandlall said, while addressing social media questions about whether the government will act in the same way it has in previous cases of damage to state property.

He assured that “equal treatment” will apply in all such matters.

“Let me assure you that our government acts in an even-handed manner… once we are committed to that course of conduct, whoever it is, the treatment will not be different,” he declared.

The Attorney General noted that, once the cost of repairs is determined, it will be forwarded to his chambers and “a letter will be dispatched as was done on previous occasions… requesting compensation.”

“If that letter is not satisfactorily responded to, then other legal proceedings will follow,” he added.

Nandlall emphasised that the government has made a public commitment “to go after persons who wantonly, negligently, and recklessly destroy public property.”

He stressed, “No different approach would be taken here.”