Dear Editor,
A recent press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the Ministry “has noted with grave concern the growing number of road fatalities which have occurred for the year thus far”. The release went on to state that “this increase in road facilities appears to be a daily occurrence, and the indications are that reckless driver behaviour, attributable to excessive speeds, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without due care and attention (or inattentiveness), tailgating, and driving while tired is the common cause”. Perhaps the Ministry should provide the empirical evidence which led to this conclusion. The release further stated “that the five Cs’- Care, Caution, Courtesy, Consideration and Commonsense – taught at our driving schools seemed to have been forgotten or ignored altogether by many motorists”.
It is clear from the press release that the Ministry of Home Affairs is clueless when it comes to the real reasons for the madness on the roads and the measures that should be implemented to address the carnage. To suggest, is it did, that “this situation necessitates stringent law enforcement” is a clear indication of how out of touch the Ministry is with regards to the real problem. I will posit that accidents are the end result of a corrupt system. The situation has reached epidemic proportions and no single measure will have any significant impact. Many would say, with justification, and based on their experience, that the elephant in the room is the sixth C: CORRUPTION; and as long as the Ministry remain, like the proverbial ostrich, and fails to address this cancer, the situation is likely to continue, or god forbids, becomes worse. Corruption is the issue that must be addressed. There is credible evidence that there is wide-spread corruption in the learner driver programme, and that may be a large part of the problem. Corruptly providing a driver’s licenses to unqualified persons is akin to providing those persons with a license to kill. Therefore, no one should be surprised with the utter madness that is taking place on the roads of Guyana.
During March 2022 Stabroek News carried a letter penned by the head of the Audit & Inspection Unit of the Guyana Police Force. There were some very disturbing revelations. The letter stated that an audit conducted by the Audit and Inspection Unit found the following:
(a) Three hundred and ninety-seven (397) persons did not write examinations but received pass marks.
(b) Seventy-nine (79) persons did not register for any examination but received pass marks.
(c) Twenty-one (21) persons received their results (pass) even before writing the exams.
These were only a few of the disturbing findings of that audit.
Back in July 2018 there was an article in one of the daily newspaper which stated that a police sergeant. two corporals and a civilian were to be charged in connection with a “massive driver’s license scam that was unearthed last April”. The article further stated that on the day of the Guyana Police Force learner driver theoretical examinations, which were held at the Felix Austin Police College, Georgetown, one hundred and seventy-four (174) persons were registered to write the examination but only one hundred and six (106) persons turned up on the day in question. However, two hundred and seven (207) scripts were received at the conclusion of the examination, and one hundred and fifty five (155) of the two hundred and seven (207) were completed. In other words, the total number of examination scripts handed in after the examination exceeded the number of persons who actually turned up to write the examination on that day. In June 2022 it was reported that three Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) employees and a police constable were charged in a drivers’ license scam.
The evidence that the system is corrupt and needs urgent attention is compelling. The question is what are the authorities doing to address the situation? Stories abound about the corrupt practices relating to the acquisition of drivers’ license. Maybe the Minister of Home Affairs and, or, the Acting Commissioner of Police can say what measures were taken to address the findings of the audit and the other glaring acts of corruption which have come to light. The release also stated that for the period January 1 to February 18, 2023, sixteen (16) persons were killed on the roads as compared to eight (8) for the corresponding period in 2022, an increase of 100%. At the time of writing this letter an additional four (4) persons, including a police corporal, perished on the roads, bringing the total road deaths for 2023 so far to twenty (20). I suspect that the latest deaths will increase the percentage of person killed in 2023 as compared to the corresponding period in 2022. This should be of concern to all and should cause the relevant agencies to spring into action to address this scourge.
The current traffic situation in Guyana requires a comprehensive review of the entire process, including the process to acquire a driver’s license, certification of motor vehicles, disqualification of drivers, suspension of drivers’ licenses, traffic education and enforcement, among other essential steps. It is time for the Government of Guyana to establish a Department of Transportation to deal with the acquisition of Drivers’ licenses; guidelines for operating driving schools and the qualification required to be a driving instructor. It is time for the certification of motor vehicles to be done by competent persons other that the Certifying Officers of the Police Traffic Department; most of whom have no training as mechanics or related subjects and therefore do not possess the skills that are necessary to certify that a motor vehicle is fit to operate on the road. It is time for the Ministry of Home Affairs and the administration of the Guyana Police Force to move away from the traditional knee jerk reaction to the unacceptable traffic carnage on the roads of Guyana and address the issue in a more systematic and holistic way.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and the administration of the Guyana Police Force are inclined to issue releases and provided figures. It is time that they move beyond that and seek to drastically change the entire system relating to the acquisition of driver’s license and the operation of motor vehicles on the roads of Guyana. Cosmetic tweaking will not work! If the Minister of Home Affairs and the Acting Commissioner of Police are incapable of implementing the changes required to bring some sanity to the current madness, which I suspect they are, they should do the honourable thing and resign, or be fired. However, I will not hold my breath. Persons must be held accountable for the current madness on the roads of Guyana. Guyana cannot continue to lose its most valuable resource, its people, in this manner.
Sincerely,
Paul Slowe CCH, DSM,
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)
Police Service Commission (Former Chairman)
