The Government of Guyana is moving to establish a comprehensive digital registry of road users as part of a broader push to strengthen enforcement of traffic laws and improve public safety, in line with what it describes as a “Safe Country” initiative.
The plan, announced by the Attorney General’s Chambers, follows recent public statements by President Irfaan Ali and will involve multiple state agencies collaborating to centralise data on drivers, including licensing records and histories of traffic offences.
“The Safe Country initiative remains among our Government’s highest priorities. Making our roadways and public places safer is a crucial factor in this equation,” the statement said.
Under the initiative, the Attorney General’s Chambers will lead coordination among the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Public Service and Government Efficiency, the Guyana Police Force, and the National Data Management Authority, among other stakeholders, to “construct and populate a digital registry with crucial information of road users.”
The registry is expected to include “data regarding their licensing particulars and their antecedents as road users including previous charges and/or convictions of road traffic and related offences,” according to the release.
Authorities say access to the system will extend across key institutions, including the judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Prison Service, the Probation Department and the Guyana Revenue Authority, allowing for real-time sharing of information to support enforcement.
“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,” the statement noted, adding that the system will support sanctions including “the suspension and revocation of drivers license for different categories of offences such as… drunken driving and motor manslaughter.”
The move aligns with recent public remarks by President Ali, who has stressed stricter enforcement of traffic laws, including tint regulations, and warned of consequences for violations. He has also signalled a crackdown on irregular driver licensing practices and promoted the use of technology to improve monitoring, compliance and coordination among enforcement agencies.
Guyana introduced a demerit points system in recent years as part of reforms to its traffic laws, aimed at curbing dangerous driving and reducing road fatalities. However, enforcement challenges and limited data integration across agencies have been cited as constraints on its effectiveness.
The new digital registry is intended to address those gaps by creating a unified platform for tracking driver behaviour and ensuring that repeat offenders are identified and penalised consistently.
In addition to the registry, the Attorney General’s Chambers said it is preparing a new set of legislative amendments to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act and related laws. These changes are expected to target issues such as noise nuisance—particularly from motor vehicles—and littering in public spaces.
“Additionally, based upon His Excellency’s direction, the Attorney General’s Chambers is ready with a new wave of legislative amendments… to address issues such as noise nuisance… and littering in public places,” the statement said.
The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about road safety in Guyana, where traffic accidents—often linked to speeding, impaired driving and weak enforcement—remain a persistent public issue.
“These measures form part of the Government’s continuing efforts to enhance public safety in Guyana, especially on our roadways and public spaces,” the statement added.
