Finance Minister crashes into taxi; driver, passenger say he left scene without assisting

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh crashed his vehicle into a car on Garnett Street and Delph Avenue, Campbelville resulting in the taxi driver and his lone passenger being slightly hurt.

The taxi driver and the passenger accused the Minister of  leaving the scene and failing to provide assistance.

Brian Young, a close associate of the government, arrived about 45 minutes later on the scene and promised the driver and the passenger in the presence of other persons that medical and car expenses would be taken care of. He was evidently upset that reporters were taking his photograph. The taxi driver, Jaggernauth Hira, however, said he wanted the agreement in writing.

Young arrived almost one hour after the accident. Hira, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara said the Finance Minister was driving north along Delph Avenue. Hira alleged that Singh breached the major road and slammed the Nissan Pathfinder, PMM 3860, into his car, HB 7194, that was travelling west along Garnett Street.  The car, whose front left side was badly damaged, ended up in a gutter on Delph Avenue and Singh’s vehicle stood on the corner.

At the back of the vehicle was seen a cooler with bottles of alcohol including Johnny Walker.

Hira and his passenger complained bitterly that Singh left the scene without rendering assistance, a situation he described as irresponsible by a member of government. “He didn’t say anything to us,” he said. “He didn’t look at us. He just walked away and then he disappear,” said Parbattie Shivcharran, adding that he didn’t even assist in taking them to the hospital.

The taxi driver said he sustained injury to his right knee and could have barely exited the car.

Shivcharran said she was on the back seat of the car when the accident occurred. “All I hear is the impact of this vehicle hit we and we fly straight into the corner. Thank God I am alive,” she said, adding that she was suffering from severe headache. The woman was going to East Bank Demerara to pick up her husband.