Two men from Nabaclis Village, Collis “Cappo” Bristol and Akeem “Burnham” Burgess, were killed late Sunday night in a suspected hit-and-run collision along the Railway Embankment at Clonbrook.
The two men were traveling on a motorcycle when they were struck by a motor car. The driver of the vehicle reportedly fled the scene immediately following the impact. Although public-spirited citizens attempted to provide aid, both men were pronounced dead upon arrival at the Enmore Regional Hospital.
In the wake of the tragedy, local residents and relatives of the victims have expressed frustration over the police response time. The community has since launched a campaign offering a reward for any information leading to the identification and capture of the suspect involved in the hit-and-run.
This tragedy comes amidst rising national concern regarding road safety in Guyana. During a recent stakeholder consultation, officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) shared sobering statistics for 2026:
Fatalities: 62 deaths from 56 fatal accidents recorded in the first 170 days of the year, marking a 7% increase in road fatalities compared to the same period in 2025.
Leading Causes: Speeding is currently identified as a factor in 75% of all fatal accidents recorded this year.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravindradat Budhram emphasized that the GPF is moving toward a “Safe System Approach.” Current efforts to curb road fatalities include:
Technology: Deployment of 21 operational speed cameras, usage of body-worn cameras by officers, and the issuance of over 27,000 electronic traffic tickets.
Administrative Reform: Digitalization of the learner driver’s program through the Guyana Digital School.
Future Strategy (2027–2030): Plans to introduce a demerit point system, the use of speed governors (limiters) for vehicles, and enhanced AI-driven data analysis to identify accident hotspots.
Despite these measures, Deputy Commissioner Budhram stressed that technology cannot replace the need for a shift in public culture. “Lasting improvements in road safety require every stakeholder to play a role,” he stated, urging citizens to move beyond a fear of penalties toward a shared commitment to preserving life.
