– launch of vision zero action plans

AMID troubling new figures showing a six per cent rise in road deaths so far this year, Guyana’s top policymakers, law enforcement leaders, and development partners gathered on Tuesday to confront the country’s deepening road safety crisis and chart a safer way forward.

At the Guyana National Road Safety Stakeholders Forum 2025, held at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, the urgent call to action echoed through every speech and statistic.
Spearheaded by the Ministry of Home Affairs in partnership with the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC), international agencies, and community stakeholders, the forum brought together powerful voices under the theme: “A Call for Action – Do the Right Thing.”

Opening the forum, Chairman of the GNRSC, Mr. Earl Lambert, delivered a stark reminder that behind every number is a human story — a life forever changed or cut short. The figures paint a mixed picture: 70 road deaths in 2025, up six per cent over last year; 66 fatal accidents, marking a 20 per cent increase; yet, other indicators offered a sliver of hope: 166 serious accidents, down seven per cent; 235 minor accidents, down four per cent; 428 damage-only accidents, down three per cent; and only two child deaths, a 50 per cent decrease.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, urged the nation to see these statistics for what they truly are: “We must not wait for the statistics to become a name we recognise or a funeral we attend. Let this forum be a turning point.”

The forum’s roadmap for that turning point is rooted in President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s Vision Zero framework — an ambitious pledge that no road death is acceptable. As part of this mission, Mr. Greg Quinn and Ms. Michelle King of the Road Safety Implementation Board unveiled seven new project plans: Deter and Detect – stronger enforcement measures; Data-Driven Road Safety – smarter use of accident data; The National Conversation – keeping road safety top of mind; Road Infrastructure Enhancements – safer roads for all users; Clinical Response & Road Trauma Support – better emergency care and rehabilitation; Road Safety and Education Campaigns – instilling safe habits from an early age; and Pave the Way – Youth & Community Involvement – empowering citizens to lead change.

International development partners, including Ms. Lorena Solorzano Salazar of the IDB and Ms. Katy Thompson of the UNDP, stressed that road safety is not only a policing issue but also a development and public health priority. Dr. Natasha Sobers-Grannum of PAHO/WHO highlighted the hidden long-term mental and physical toll on victims and families.

One of the forum’s standout moments was the introduction of the Secure Eye App, presented by Ms. Priya Seepaul, a real-time crime and road incident reporting platform designed to enhance citizen-police co-operation. Featuring GPS tracking, anonymous reporting, and direct links to law enforcement, the app aims to help Guyanese residents become active guardians of their streets.

“Secure Eye is more than technology; it’s a tool of trust, an invitation for citizens to reclaim their streets and report recklessness, crime, or corruption in real-time,” Ms. Seepaul said.
As the forum concluded, its theme, “Do the Right Thing” emerged not as a slogan but as a rallying cry to every driver, pedestrian, policymaker, and parent: road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and the time for action is now.