In a decisive move to protect the integrity of the nation’s expanding road network, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, has issued a final warning to operators of heavy-duty trucks: vehicles found exceeding the approved 15-tonne load limit will be strictly impounded.
Minister Edghill delivered the ultimatum during a meeting with contractors executing projects in Region 4, where concerns regarding the rapid deterioration of road infrastructure due to overladen vehicles took center stage. The Minister expressed growing frustration with the “negligent attitude” of some operators and contractors, signaling that the government is moving away from warnings and toward rigid enforcement.
“From today, I will start impounding ALL trucks which are above the authorised weight limit,” Minister Edghill stated. He made it clear that the consequences for non-compliance would be severe and immediate.
Unlike previous measures that may have involved fines, the Minister announced a new punitive strategy: “And when I say impound, I don’t mean paying fines… the trucks will be clamped for two weeks.”
The Minister highlighted that the ongoing damage to national infrastructure—particularly bridges and major road arteries—is being accelerated by trucks carrying excessive amounts of aggregate and other materials. “This is to ensure the structural integrity of the bridges we have built along the major road artery does not diminish faster,” he explained.
The Ministry is intensifying its monitoring efforts to curb these violations. To support this nationwide crackdown, the government plans to increase the number of weigh-in locations. Notably, Lethem is scheduled to receive its first set of scales within the next month. Additionally, the Minister announced that similar enforcement initiatives will be rolled out in Region 3, specifically targeting operations on the West Bank end at Wales.
Minister Edghill underscored that while enforcement is being utilized as a “last resort,” it has become the only effective alternative to ensure that Guyana’s development is not undermined by reckless transport practices. The government’s move is part of a broader strategy to hold contractors and operators accountable for the preservation of public assets.
