‘Report crime or fail your people’

Mar 20, 2026 News

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– SRDC Vice-Chairman warns Toshaos

Kaieteur News – Vice-Chairman of the South Rupununi Democratic Council (SRDC), Toshao Nicholas Fredericks, has issued a strong call for village leaders and residents across the Deep South Rupununi, Region Nine, to report all criminal activities through proper legal channels.

Fredericks made the appeal while delivering remarks at the close of the SRDC’s Bi-Annual Meeting, held at the Shulinab Benab from March 12–13, 2026, the DPP chambers said in a press release.

He thanked the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for its outreach and stressed the critical role Toshaos play in safeguarding their communities. “This engagement is both respectful and powerful. It equips our people with essential knowledge while promoting a culture of awareness, responsibility, and justice,” Fredericks said. “I commend the DPP’s team for strengthening legal awareness in our communities.”

Toshao Fredericks’s comments were in response to DPP’s Communications and Outreach Officer Liz Rahman’s opening presentation, during which she explained that when a crime is committed, the Toshao has a responsibility to report it to the police, who will launch an investigation, a police file will be compiled and then forwarded to the DPP’s Office for legal advice through the Guyana Police Force’s Law Enforcement Office.

Rahaman stressed on the Toshao’s responsibility to report all crimes to the police, “yes it is permissible for Toshoas to deal with the less serious offences like disorderly behaviour and simple larceny which maybe offences under the communities’ rule, but you must, by law, report the more serious offences such as murders, sexual offences, domestic violence, causing death by dangerous driving, consumption of alcohol and smoking of illicit drugs by underage/school children and larceny etc, and all other criminal offences to the police.”

She pleaded with the Toshaos to take their responsibility seriously “because for you to not do so, you are doing a disservice to your people who have placed their trust and confidence in you as their Toshao to serve them; you must report all serious crimes to the police, that is the only way you and your villagers will get the justice you are looking for.”

During a previous outreach in early February, some residents of Potarinau, Quiko, Shulinab, Meriwau and Parabara had informed the DPP’s Office that they were not aware of how to go about dealing with criminal matters, especially those in relation to gender-based and sexual violence.

When asked if they would make reports to the police, some residents had informed that “we were not aware that the Toshaos cannot deal with sexual offences and domestic violence.” The DPP chambers said there have been allegations of Village Leaders “try to settle” matters of sexual offences. According to the DPP based on complaints and enquiries from residents in the Region on how the criminal justice system works, State Counsel Muntaz Ali highlighted the judicial procedures with which such cases are dealt within the criminal justice system and highlighted the role of The State at ensuring that justice is served in these criminal matters.

Touching specifically on Sexual Offences, State Counsel Ali explained the importance of credible

and consistent evidence, due process, and the collective responsibility to support the legal

proceedings in Court. He explained the elements of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence and the severity of penalties attached thereto. “Unlike other crimes in which witnesses maybe present, Sexual Offences are committed in private, so only the victim and perpetrator would know what exactly took place, so the victim has to come to Court and give the evidences” State Counsel stressed.

Police Prosecutor Shyra Bruce who is seconded to the DPP’s Office, gave an insightful and practical presentation on Domestic Violence (DV), with much emphasis on Protection Orders and Restraining Orders and how these can be obtained from the Magistrates’ Courts, the DPP release stated. She detailed the procedures for reporting incidences of DV, the different types of relationships recognised under the law and how each is addressed within the legal framework of legal and common-law marriages.

Toshao Fredericks noted that the DPP’s Team in their presentations enabled participants to better understand the gravity of various criminal acts, the legal consequences attached to them and the appropriate procedures for reporting such matters. “Your engagement has created a deeper awareness of the rights of individuals and the protections available under the law.”

The SRDC Meeting was well attended by Toshaos and Senior Councilors from Sandcreek, Shulinab, Sawariwau, Katoonarib, Shea, Maruranau, Awarewanau, Aishalton, Karaudar, Achawib, Parabara, Bashizun, Meriwau, Quiko, Katuur and Baitoon.

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• Democratic Council, engagement, Law Enforcement, South Rupununi, State Counsel, Toshao Nicholas Fredericks

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