Last Updated on Thursday, 9 April 2026, 22:55 by Writer
Guyana would be establishing a digital registry of accused and convicted road traffic offenders to make it easier for authorities to suspend or revoke drivers’ licences, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall said on Thursday.
“This measure will allow for greater and more efficient enforcement of our road traffic legislative framework, specifically, the diligent enforcement of penalties such as the Demerit Point System that authorises the suspension and revocation of drivers license for different categories of offences such as, inter alia, drunken driving and motor manslaughter,” he said in a statement.
In keeping with a directive from President Irfaan Ali, Mr Nandlall said he would be leading an initiative involving the ministries of home affairs, and public service and government efficiency as well as the Guyana Police Force and the National Data Management Authority and other important stakeholders to construct and populate the digital registry.
The Attorney General said the registry would contain “crucial information” of road users including data regarding their licensing particulars, previous charges and/or convictions of road traffic and related offences.
He said the courts, judiciary, Director of Public Prosecutions, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service, Probation Department, Guyana Revenue Authority and other important institutions of State and government would have digital access to that registry.
He justified the need for the registry, saying that “the magistrate court would not have the previous convictions or charges of that person for that offence or a similar offence and that stultifies the enforcement of these important measures.”
Mr Nandlall also said, in keeping with the President’s directive, the Attorney General’s Chambers is ready with a “new wave of legislative amendments” to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act and related legislation, to address issues such as noise nuisance, including, from motor vehicles.
“Guyanese are bombarded with obnoxious emissions of noises at unbearable decibels, emanating, in particular, from motor vehicles and, of course, other places,” he said.
For instance, he said motorcycles were being ridden without mufflers, making them a public nuisance. “We can’t continue with this system of uncivilised behaviour,” he said.
He said those measures would form part of the government’s continuing efforts to enhance public safety in Guyana, especially on its roadways and in public spaces.
The Attorney General said the laws would be amended to form the basis for a crackdown on littering and dumping of refuse, some of which block up main drainage canals across Guyana.
The Environmental Protection Act already contains provisions against noise nuisance and littering.
