With rising complaints from citizens about the abuse of private vehicles being fitted with emergency sirens and flashing emergency lights, Government Ministers have been ordered to ensure the sirens and lights are removed from their vehicles. Other Government officials have also been told of the order.

News Source understands that the issue was raised at a recent Cabinet meeting and both the President and the Vice President pointed out that it is against the law for non-emergency and non-police vehicles to be outfitted with the sirens and emergency lights.

In recent months, several official government vehicles carrying Ministers and Government officials have been seen making their way through traffic with sirens blazing and flashing lights on.

The Home Affairs Minister and the Guyana Police Force have also been told, News Source underatands, to clamp down on other private vehicles that have the emergency lights and sirens attached to them in the efforts to beat traffic.

News Source understands that Diplomats have also been told of the need to have sirens and emergency lights removed from their vehicles, since several vehicles with diplomatic number plates were noticed in traffic with the sirens and flashing lights on.

In the National Assembly last year, Opposition Member of Parliament, Geeta Chandan-Edmond raised the issue and grilled the Home Affairs Minister about the illegal practice of non-emergency vehicles using the sirens and flashing lights.

At the time, the Home Affairs Minister said the Government was looking at the possibility of expanding the categories of vehicles that could carry the sirens and lights.

Chandan-Edmond decried the abuse of the emergency systems and also warned that it could have serious consequences.

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