Latest update April 5th, 2025 12:59 AM
Latest News
Fewer deaths on Berbice roadways this year
NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – Fewer deaths occurred on the roadways of Berbice so far this year than in the corresponding period of 2009.
Generally, statistics show that serious accidents in Division ‘B’ of the Guyana Police Force recorded a 10 percent decrease, while fatal accidents reduced by 50 percent. According to a senior official of the Guyana Police Force, a serious accident is one in which persons sustain injuries but yet still differs from a fatal one.
The main causes were given as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, and negligence, as well as the lack of consideration for other road users.
Mukeshwar Sewlall
It is mandatory that all categories of drivers, even those of animal drawn vehicles and cycles, once involved in an accident must undergo the breathalyzer test on the scene unless hospitalised. If the situation calls for admittance to hospital, then doctors at the three facilities identified for Division ‘B’ – New Amsterdam, Skeldon and Fort Wellington Hospitals, must draw blood and have the samples tested for alcohol as directed by the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.
The Upper Corentyne is considered to be one of the hot spots, but with a lot of emphasis being placed in such areas under the Zero Tolerance Operation Safeway and its rigid enforcement, traffic ranks patrol day and night. The breathalyzer and radar guns are now widely used and have resulted in 36 cases being made over the Easter weekend. The offenders pleaded guilty and were all fined.
There were four fatal accidents this year in Rose Hall, East Canje; New Amsterdam; and Nurney.
The year’s victims were Mukeshwar Sewlall last week, Roy Samad and Kevin Madramootoo who both perished in January and pedestrian Robert Hackett in February.
An employee of the National Communication Network’s Berbice Operation, 23-year old Mukeshwar Sewlall of Gangaram Settlement in East Canje was pronounced dead on arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital on April 18th, after being involved in an accident on the East Canje Public Road. Sewlall was said to be riding his motorcycle heading to his place of employment about 22:30 hours where he was expected to work the night shift.
He was accompanied by pillion rider, 23-year old Latchman Singh of Canefield in East Canje. In the vicinity of the Rose Hall Estate Staff Compound, a pick-up, PHH 1025, which was heading in the opposite direction allegedly swerved across the road and collided with Mukeshwar Sewlall and his pillion rider.
The vehicle ended up in the nearby canal. The driver of the vehicle, 28-year old Arnold Sewpersaud of Third Street, Saw Mill Dam in Rosignol, escaped from the scene of the accident. The two cyclists were subsequently transported to the New Amsterdam Hospital. The pillion rider was admitted then transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he underwent surgery the following day.
About 12 hours after the accident, police found Arnold Sewpersaud at the Fort Wellington Hospital where he had been admitted. Last Friday, he was slapped with four charges at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court when he appeared before Magistrate Adele Nagamootoo.
He was placed on $400,000 bail for causing death by dangerous driving, $30,000 for not reporting the accident and for the two counts of failure to render assistance – $30,000 each. His passport had to be lodged and he is expected to report to the Blairmont Police Station every Monday.
The driver in the Robert Hackett accident was arrested on the East Coast of Demerara days after the accident and is now on $400,000 bail.
There was one serious accident this year and that was when a motorcyclist rode into the rear of a Canter truck on the West Coast of Berbice.
More control is needed in terms of stray animals roaming the thoroughfares and the co-operation of the owners is needed. On April 12, a lorry transporting 51 employees of the Guyana Sugar Corporation collided with two horses on the Number 19 Highway and many of the passengers sustained injuries. The two animals bore no brands and as such the owners have not yet been identified.
With the spring rice crop being harvested now, the police official is appealing to farmers to exercise some consideration when drying paddy along the shoulders of the roads.
Meanwhile, a new practice is for drivers plying the New Amsterdam/Corriverton course (Number 63) to park at locations along the route, particularly in the vicinity of the New Amsterdam Hospital, at the Canje Turn and the Berbice River Bridge Access Road. According to the official, passengers should not condone this and it should be reported to police.
According to Clause Eight of the Road Service License, “The driver of the vehicle after departing from the terminus of its route, shall – proceed to point or place mentioned in the route, not delay the vehicle on the journey and not return to the place of departure after leaving except on the return journey. Many drivers were placed before the courts between January and April for such practices.
Some were slapped with $10,000 fines while other cases are still pending.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The One-Man Republic
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- There exists, tucked away on the margin of maps and minds, a country that has perfected... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
