A Berbice hire car driver was fined $30,000 after being found guilty of abandoning a passenger before reaching the agreed destination and displaying disorderly conduct while driving.
Hemwattie Bishun, of Lot AA Race Coast, Corriverton, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where she faced two charges—failing to transport a passenger to the agreed destination, contrary to Section 85:1 of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, and disorderly conduct while driving.
The incident occurred on August 12, when Bishun, who was operating hire car HD 7680, picked up veteran journalist Andrew Carmichael in New Amsterdam for a trip to Number 65 Village, Corentyne. However, during the journey, Bishun received a phone call and abruptly informed her passenger that she would not continue beyond Rose Hall Town, saying she needed to return to New Amsterdam to pick up two other paying customers.
Carmichael recounted in court that he reminded the driver of her obligation to complete the journey and stated that he was not required to pay for a trip that was cut short. Upon reaching Rose Hall Town, Bishun reportedly ordered him out of the vehicle and hurled verbal abuse at him.
In her defence, Bishun claimed she was unaware that terminating a trip midway was an offence and maintained that her car had no mechanical issues that day.
Magistrate Matthias underscored that Bishun’s vehicle was in good working condition and that she was legally bound to complete the contracted trip. The magistrate fined her $15,000 for each offence, with an alternative of serving 100 days in prison.
Before adjourning the matter, Magistrate Matthias advised Bishun to share the lesson with her colleagues in the hire car industry—that abandoning passengers before reaching their destination is a serious offence that will not be taken lightly.