The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2023 which saw support from both sides of the house was yesterday passed in the National Assembly thus enabling e-cycles which have become popular throughout the country, to be regulated.
The bill was presented by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn.
Speaking on the bill, Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall said yesterday that electric cycles will not be banned in Guyana. However, he disclosed that 11 people have died in accidents involving e- cycles since 2021, and it was important that their use be regulated.
The amended bill defines an electric cycle as any motorcycle that has an electric motor and is fitted with an effective stopping system controlled by the use of brakes, gears, or motor control. Electric cycles will now be subjected to the same rules and regulations as motorcycles.
Further, the amended bill includes requirements for safety and other forms of motor vehicle operation.
Nandlall pointed out that e-cycles have become popular on Guyana’s roadways over the years but that there was “no way to regulate them” as such the amendments to the bill were necessary. “We are here also Mr Speaker in recognition of the fact that we are losing too many of our citizens on the roadways of our country, and our government will constantly be taking all steps requisite to ensure that we address that matter,” he said.
According to Nandlall, based on statistics provided by the Guyana Police Force, 14 people sustained significant injuries as a result of the use of electric cycles from 2021 – 2023, adding, “that is a completely unacceptable state of affairs.”
Nandlall said the data shows that none of the riders had any form of vehicular licence, “rather they took advantage of the fact that the Guyana Revenue Authority was not regulating electric cycles.”
He noted that most times users of the electric cycles did not use helmets exposing themselves to potential injury, disability, and death. “Even more frightening is that some of the users are young persons, even persons under the age of 16,” he stated.
Stressing that there was never any intention to ban electric cycles, Nandlall pointed out government recognized their environmentally friendly nature, and that they are a cheap and quick source of transportation in Guyana. “So we embrace this mode of transportation but we thought it fit that it should be brought into regulation,” he added.
Meanwhile, APNU Member of Parliament Geeta Chandan Edmond in her presentation also supported the need for e-cycles to be regulated. She said, “This amendment is absolutely necessary, we cannot have a motor and vehicle and traffic act that does not include provisions for this growing industry.”
