Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill has issued a stern warning to motorists and operators of heavy-duty equipment, declaring that anyone who damages government property will be held financially accountable.
He made the declaration during a recent live broadcast on the Ministry of Public Works’ Facebook page, noting that road accidents are causing damage to public infrastructure such as lamp posts, traffic lights, guardrails, and bridge headwalls.
“We have seen that a number of accidents have occurred, and when those accidents occur, not only are lives lost or limbs damaged, but people suffer severe injuries, and there is also a phenomenon where government property is being damaged as well,” he stated.
Edghill said the government will no longer absorb the costs of repairing damages caused by reckless or negligent behaviour. The ministry is collaborating with the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic and Maintenance Division to issue notices to ensure those responsible pay for the damage.
“You damage government property; you will be made to pay for it. Our legal team will pursue you, ensuring that the cost of repairing would be borne…Whatever it costs, the parties responsible will be made to pay for it,” the minister stated.
He also highlighted a growing problem involving operators carrying heavy-duty machinery on community roads. Some excavators and similar equipment, he said, are being driven on newly paved roads without protective pads, cutting into asphalt surfaces and damaging road shoulders.
“We have been talking to people, we have been engaging, but the time has come where we have to enforce this,” the minister said.
The move forms part of a broader government effort to promote road safety and preserve public infrastructure across Guyana
