Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo emphasized the urgent need for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to rebuild public trust and strengthen accountability. Speaking on the “Starting Point” podcast, he highlighted two main issues: a perception problem and accountability concerns that overshadow the GPF’s successes.
Jagdeo noted that while the GPF has made significant strides in solving crime, these achievements are not adequately communicated to the public. He criticized the lack of press conferences to showcase their successes, stating that this contributes to negative perceptions.
He compared the GPF’s effectiveness in solving crime favorably to other Caribbean police forces, mentioning that their performance could rival that of the FBI.
However, he acknowledged accountability issues, citing the Adriana Younge case as an example where the GPF failed to promptly correct misinformation, leading to public distrust. Jagdeo also addressed concerns about police conduct on the road, noting that while citizens often break traffic laws, police harassment is also a problem.
To improve accountability, he pointed to the government’s investment in electronic traffic management, including speed cameras and e-ticketing. Ultimately, Jagdeo urged the GPF to confront trust issues directly and keep the public informed to enhance their credibility.
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