The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), headed by Lennox Shuman, the Deputy House Speaker, has labelled the motion brought to the National Assembly today by the opposition regarding a missing person alert system as “ill-timed and misplaced”.
Signed by Shuman, the missive noted that the Guyana Police Force has already taken action by rolling out changes to its Standard Operating Procedures in dealing with Missing Person Reports.
“We further note that decisive internal actions have already been initiated by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), including an internal probe and the administrative leave of the divisional commander, and the arrest of several individuals, including the hotel owner and police ranks, in keeping with public expectations for transparency.
Against this backdrop, the LJP views the motions tabled by the APNU/AFC Opposition in today’s sitting of the National Assembly as misplaced and ill-timed,” the release said.
It added that the opposition’s motion calling for the establishment of a national alert system for missing persons appears “tone-deaf and amounts to political grandstanding, given that the Guyana Police Force has already acted comprehensively on this very issue”.
It noted that the “radical” improvements include the immediate elimination of the outdated mandatory 24-hour waiting period and the activation of a Red Alert system that triggers an immediate, coordinated national response to any report of a missing child.
“These are substantive reforms, undertaken responsibly and proactively, without the need for political theatre. The LJP strongly urges all stakeholders, including the opposition, to exercise sound judgment and responsible leadership. Justice must be allowed to take its full and proper course, free from unnecessary political interference that could further undermine the already fraying public trust in the very institutions we rely upon to deliver justice,” the party said.
It noted that in the Linden case, where a resident was gunned down by a cop, the system is working.
“The Linden case, where a police sergeant was charged and remanded for the murder of 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters just a few weeks ago, stands as evidence that the system can and does work when due process is allowed to unfold. We must show equal respect and patience in the Adrianna Younge case, ensuring that the investigation proceeds unimpeded and that justice is served in full accordance with the law.”
