Against the backdrop of a recent US State Department Report highlighting corruption in the Guyana Police Force, Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton said indeed, there are numerous instances of malpractices within the agency that leave more questions than answers.
He supported the premise of the State Department Report, highlighting that corruption claims were made by Sergeant Dion Bascom, about a possible cover up of the murder of Ricardo Fagundez. The department said that the claims were not fully investigated by the Guyana Police Force.
Today, during the Opposition’s weekly press conference, Norton highlighted that the administration’s attempt to rubbish the report, seemed more of a cover up to hide what he deemed as “blatant corruption” within the force.
“Corruption in the force has become a norm… As I engage people in the communities, police officers complain that there are people who are linked to this administration who are overruling senior members of the force. There are also police officers who are involved in daily corrupt practices,” Norton said.
He continued, “I believe if you bring Stevie Wonder to Guyana he would see the corruption too… I believe the report was accurate in highlighting these issues and the evidence all around suggests corruption.” Norton posited that there are still officers who accept several forms of bribes, including money, to ignore major traffic offenses.
Meanwhile, when asked by the Guyana Standard about Attorney General Anil Nandlall claiming that the report was in some sense unfair in it’s illustrations, Norton said that the government’s attempts to cover up the infractions seem desperate.
Norton was also asked to say how corruption could be decreased in the force. He said, “The fish rots from the head. And if there are allegations of fraud and corruption against Bharrat Jagdeo, and they can’t investigate it then the police will recognise that some people will do things (and get away with it) while others can’t. Corruption is a serious problem,” Norton said.
The AG said yesterday that government will soon engage the Department of State on what it considers to be a number of inaccuracies in its report with a view to having same corrected.
This corruption was inherited from the PNC which actually encouraged it. I have paid thousands of dollars in bribes to policemen – just because I have straight and not kinky hair.