Back to the traffic chaos: Some suggestions

Jun 24, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – By now volumes would have been written on the chaos on the roads in every part of GUYANA, the resultant slaughter, serious injuries, loss of limbs, mayhem and grief and suffering of the victims of these blatant acts of TOTAL indiscipline on the roads. I would humbly suggest that from time-to-time decision makers should “abandon” their sirens protected vehicles, and observe the “madness” on the roads in Guyana.

A bold boast was recently made of TEN THOUSAND vehicles having been registered in three months (March to May, 2025) and while this is a sign of sorts of economic improvement, certainly some adverse effects have been dragged along. Should that trend continue, and I have no reason to think it wouldn’t, that would be FORTY THOUSAND additional vehicles EVERY YEAR on our roads. PHENOMENAL!!!

I know as a fact that very many of the cars on the roads are acquired through loans, and a majority of these are in the “Private Hire business” where the drivers are NOT the owners, and have to make a certain amount for the owners, EVERY DAY.  YES, you guessed it, the mini bus and truck culture is being replicated.

I’m going to be as brief as possible, but have to point out some breaches/indiscretions observed EVERY day: Vehicles (government vehicles included) are “parked” sometimes in peak periods (even though NOW there are NO defined peak periods, day or night) in congested streets WITH hazard lights on, as if this a licence to double park and add to the already congested area, e.g. on Camp Street between Robb and Regent Streets at 4.30 PM.

I often wonder if deep tints on vehicles: buses, hire cars, commercial vehicles, trucks AND government vehicles etc. have obtained the necessary permissions to have these, as once again, the majority of vehicles on the roads now seem to have these tints. It is impossible to recognise errant drivers.

Even with traffic cameras on some roads, all categories of vehicles (from trucks to motorcycles) dash and dart from lane to lane without ANY indication of their intentions, before doing so. It’s a pity that the cameras are not equipped to capture such reckless/dangerous manoeuvres. MAYBE the authorities can consider a NO OVERTAKING policy on certain roads during certain times.

I’d also suggest that motorcyclists and vehicle drivers committing breaches of the traffic laws, be transported in bus loads to the accident wards of the hospitals, to see first-hand the agony victims of accidents endure. Their vehicles should be impounded for days/weeks depending on the severity of breaches, as offenders may reconsider their actions where it hurts most, their pockets!!!

Another irritant is the loud horns on trucks, motorcycles without “mufflers” and the never-ending deafening music from minibuses AND other motorcars. I’m most days a stone’s throw from police headquarters in Kingston AND the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital and the noise is disgustingly ear shattering.

Editor, I’m sure others have written on these and many other indiscretions before and would continue to do so, until the madness is dramatically reduced, but having said that, I need to have a few more minutes of your readers’ valuable time:

EVERY road user (and I’m only referring here to Georgetown) would have experienced the breaking up of specific junctions of roads, sometimes within a week of them being “repaired/resurfaced”. I am no engineer or expert, but in discussions with like-minded persons, and since this a relatively new phenomenon, we speculate that the damage is done by HEAVY trucks and containers traversing these streets. Three areas I’d mention are outside the Court of Appeal, in Kingston; outside of the National Library/by the cenotaph and at Brickdam and Avenue of the Republic (significantly at the junction of the Magistrates’ Courts and Parliament) and a block going South at Hadfield Street.  Now just take a few seconds and think where these are, ALL around corners and consider if the culprits couldn’t be the heavy trucks and containers. My question is, if I’m correct, shouldn’t some sort of recovery of the costs to build these roads to withstand the pressure these roads are called upon to bear, ONCE AND FOR ALL TIMES? AND while this is being considered, can’t these repair works be done at nights?

On the matter of works being done at nights, can’t the City Council schedule garbage collection during nights, instead of garbage trucks in Regent Street at 2 PM, congesting traffic for blocks?

Since parking in the city is now a problem with NO solution in sight, it’s suggested that the monstrosity on Homestretch Avenue, EAST of the 1763 Monument, be converted into a massive FIVE plus storeys parking lot, maybe with a few government offices be re-located around there.

That some government offices be re-located outside of central Georgetown (e.g. GRA on Camp Street) to either on the East Coast, before Mahaica OR along the Heroes Highway, with adequate parking.

The canal between Church Street and South Road, and other such canals can be covered and paid parking allowed. And, possibly controversially, the burial ground on Regent Street, opposite Bourda Market, which hasn’t been used for maybe a hundred years or more, and is an EYESORE, can be converted into another FIVE plus storeys parking lot.

Finally, I’d like to recommend that serious consideration be given to a railway service (underground preferably) between Georgetown and Mahaica and Georgetown and Diamond, and since the private sector is the “engine of growth,” they should be encouraged/enticed to undertake such an investment.

A comfortable, reliable and safe FERRY SERVICE, either government OR privately operated, between Diamond and Kingston, should also be considered.

URBAN PLANNING is sadly lacking!!

It would be remis

s of me to leave without complimenting the Traffic Department, headed by the energetic Assistant Commissioner of Police, and his hardworking team, who day and night, rain or sun, attempt to enforce order on our roads and to urge that they continue to make the Police Force a respected service.

With kind regards,

Harry N Nawbatt

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• Bad drivers, Harry N Nawbatt, reckless driving, Traffic Chaos, URBAN PLANNING

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