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Government interference skewing police investigations, trust in GPF crumbling – APNU
(Kaieteur News) – The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has accused government officials of compromising ongoing police investigations through what it described as a pattern of premature public statements, warning that the practice is eroding public confidence in the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Speaking at the party’s weekly press conference on Friday, Member of Parliament Dr. Dexter Todd said there is a “very, very, very worrying” trend in which political figures pronounce on active matters before investigations are concluded.
“It seems to be a little more worrying now, the frequency in which we are seeing early premature pronouncements by political members from the government,” Todd said. He added that such interventions risk shaping investigative outcomes.
Dr. Dexter Todd
Referencing the case of Adriana Younge, Todd pointed to statements made by President Irfaan Ali following the child’s independent autopsy in April 2025. The president had disclosed that due to the state of decomposition, pathologists were unable to determine an exact time of death and had ruled out theories of forcible drowning or other means of killing followed by disposal in water.
However, attorney Darren Wade, who witnessed the post-mortem, later stated that the findings indicated the child died by drowning, though no determination was made regarding where the drowning occurred.
Todd argued that such early disclosures by senior government officials risk influencing the direction of investigations.
“So all the investigations, once there is certain pronouncements, the investigation goes on to bring into conformity what they have said, and that is very, very, very worrying,” he stressed.
The opposition also cited the case of 30-year-old Otis Payne, who died while in police custody in March 24, 2025. Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond had publicly rejected claims by Payne’s family that he was beaten by police, stating that available video footage did not support allegations of brutality.
But Payne’s mother, Amanda Kato, who witnessed the post-mortem examination disputed that conclusion, describing her son’s body as “very disturbing” and suggestive of physical violence.
Dr. Todd criticised the minister’s remarks as another instance of premature commentary, arguing that such statements place pressure on investigators.
“We heard from the Minister of Home Affairs that there is no evidence of any form of police assault or excessive force to Payne,” he said, while noting that eyewitness accounts reportedly contradict that position.
He questioned whether those statements have been properly recorded and considered, pointing out that there has been little public update from the police on the status of the investigation.
“I am sure that even where the police have completed an investigation, even if they were to come up with facts supporting a contradiction of what the minister said, that is going to be swept under the carpet,” Todd asserted.
According to the MP, the broader issue reflects a failure at the policy level, where the government has not taken sufficient steps to address allegations of police excesses or weak investigations.
“We are not seeing a government which takes the people of Guyana very seriously… when there are complaints and reports of excesses, police excesses or very slack, inadequate investigations,” he said.
Todd maintained that the role of the Minister of Home Affairs should be to support the GPF through strong policy direction aimed at restoring public trust, rather than making statements that could compromise the integrity of ongoing probes.
He warned that unless addressed, the pattern risks further undermining confidence in the Police Force, which is mandated to serve and protect the public.
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