THE Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) administration is appealing to the Ministry of Home Affairs to stop issuing licences to young persons, who, due to their inexperience, are driving dangerously, resulting in deaths on the roadways.
The call was issued by the regional councillors after being informed by Regional Chairman David Armogan of the resuscitation of the Region 6 Road Safety Association.
“A lot of young fellows are getting licences to drive on the roads. They should stop giving kids licences,” posited Michael Hintzen, an Alliance For Change representative.
However, Armogan noted that while the cops are kept busy with several investigations, it must be noted that following the accident in which Reena Devi Singh met her demise, several licences were found in that vehicle.
“I think he was involved in the racket of selling licences,” he opined.
The chairman noted that the revamped Road Safety Association has an 18- point plan which is expected to address, amongst other issues, the issue of “kid drivers.”
Meanwhile, over the past months, several persons have lost their lives on the Berbice roadways, due to immaturity, coupled with an above the accepted rate of alcohol consumption by young drivers.
On June 13 last 18- year- old Nakesh Persaud, called Romel and “Fat Boy,” allegedly struck down Delroy Park, who was cycling home from work at Kilmarnock Village. The driver reportedly failed to stop and sped away, at which point he slammed into Tabitha Latoya Bagot, 19; her sister Juanita Malika Bagot, 16 and their niece,three-year-old Shamaine Cort, all of Philippi Farm, Corentyne. The girls were pronounced dead on arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital. However, after the accident, the driver reportedly fled the scene and struck down Matthew McBean at Liverpool village.
Thereafter, 20- year-old Darshan Babulall, was behind the wheel of a pick-up truck GPP 8240 when he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into pedestrian Roy De Souza, killing him instantly.
At the scene of the accident at Alness village, several bottles of alcoholic beverages were removed from the vehicle.
Subsequently, Andrew Johnson, aged 20 years, of Lot 35 – 65 Postal Housing Scheme, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving after allegedly colliding with Rena Devi Singh as she was crossing the Letter Kenny Public Road, Corentyne.
In addition, Roopnarine Samaroo, 21, of Rosignol West Bank Berbice, allegedly caused the death of Parmendra “Roger” Mohan, 49 years, of Plantation Brahan, West Coast Berbice.
Mohan, was struck by a motor car while walking along the D’ Edward Pubic Road, West Coast Berbice.
Furthermore, motorist Ricardo Ramcharran Approo, aged 19 years of La Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, was ordered to lodge his passport and report to the Sparendaam Police Station each Friday, after he allegedly caused the death of 26 – year – old Vicram Ramlakhan, a former Bell Loader operator at Albion Sugar Estate.