Happy Acres man charged with dangerous driving, fined for uninsured vehicle

Riyad Ahmad, a 23-year-old resident of Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, to answer charges of dangerous driving and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Ahmad is accused of causing the February 11 accident in Kitty after allegedly jumping a stop sign, colliding with another vehicle, and striking 63-year-old pedestrian Waveney Fernandes, leaving her severely injured.

Ahmad was charged under Section 36(1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, for dangerous driving, and Section 3(1) of the Motor Vehicle Third Party Risk Act, Chapter 51:02, for driving an uninsured motor vehicle.

The charges were read to him before Magistrate Shivani Lalaram. Ahmad pleaded not guilty to the charge of dangerous driving and guilty to the charge of operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

For the dangerous driving charge, the court granted Ahmad bail in the sum of $40,000.

In relation to the uninsured motor vehicle offence, he was fined $35,000 or three weeks’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

The matter concerning the dangerous driving charge was adjourned to April 8, 2026.