‘No hotplating, touting & speeding’ – Hicken warns minibus operators

Yesterday Deputy Commissioner (s) of Operations Clifton Hicken along with Chief of Traffic, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram and President of the United Minibus Union Eon Andrews met with minibus and taxi operators along with other stakeholders at the Police Officer Training Center, Eve Leary.

Mr Hicken, in his remarks, urged operators to continue to adhere to COVID guidelines and ensure that all passengers wear a mask.

He also warned against speeding.

“Drivers are adults and you should be responsible, most of our flesh on the roads is caused by speeding, and you are still speeding, well for every action there will be an equal and opposite reaction to police make sure that roads are a safer place we will have to make sure you comply with the laws governing the road through the traffic law, so anyone caught speeding – there will be consequences ”.

The Deputy Commissioner (ag) also argued that there should be no ‘hot plate and tidy’.

“Hotplating and soliciting are crimes that lead to accidents and traffic jams. Drivers must co-operate with their conductors and be courteous and respectful and will attract commuters, anyone found soliciting will face penalties, ”the Deputy Commissioner warned.

Mr Hicken also stressed to the operators that there is no need to clash with the police.

“The country is developing in the oil and gas sector, and also, foreign investors are coming to Guyana and minibus operators are having conflicts with the police and pulling a cutlass, what message are you sending? ”

“Why not report to a senior officer or commander, instead of having a confrontation?”

He reminded operators that he had an open door policy, and warned them not to have any conflicts with the police.

Also speaking at the meeting was the President of the United Minibus Association who highlighted that the pandemic was real and that minibus operators were to be more considerate of their passengers, as a way of putting their safety first during the health crisis.

“The minibus people in some parks are not disciplined enough to enforce the rules, because what you find is that they are just thinking about making money – I mean there are a few decent drivers and decent operators.”

The Head of Traffic, Superintendent of Police, Mr Ramesh Ashram, urged the minibus and taxi operators to abide by the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Regulations and to change their attitude towards the public in order to build a better partnership with the police.

Source