Women’s Commission calls out ‘silence’ over police rape allegations
October 5 2026
The Women & Gender Equality Commission has raised concerns over allegations of multiple sexual assaults against a senior female police officer, calling for greater accountability and transparency in the handling of sexual misconduct within the Guyana Police Force.
In a statement issued by Chairperson Indranie Chandarpal, the Commission said it has taken note of recent media reports concerning allegations made by a senior female police officer against a high-ranking male officer.
The Commission also expressed concern over the response from Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, and what it described as the continued silence of the Guyana Police Force’s executive management.
The Commission said it understands that an investigation was launched into the allegations, but questioned why the senior officer accused remains on duty.
It also raised questions about whether appropriate action was taken after the female officer reported the allegations, including whether the accused officer was relieved of duty.
“Was the high-ranking officer relieved from duty as is customary in this type of case?”
The Commission said it has spent years educating the public, particularly workers, about sexual harassment and the seriousness of sexual offences, while encouraging victims to report such matters despite the fear and embarrassment that can prevent them from doing so.
It said the situation is particularly concerning because the alleged victim is a serving member of the Guyana Police Force, an institution mandated to protect the public.
The Commission said police officers who experience sexual abuse within the institution can face the same fear, embarrassment and other constraints that commonly prevent victims of workplace sexual exploitation from reporting their experiences.
According to the Commission, the senior female officer overcame those barriers and reported the alleged incidents to the Home Affairs Minister.
It further claimed that the officer was subsequently transferred to another post, while questioning whether appropriate action had been taken in response to the allegations.
The Commission stressed that every Guyanese has the right to work in a safe environment and should not have to choose between personal safety, dignity and livelihood.
“Human Rights are meaningless if those who violate it are protected by the very institutions charged with upholding said rights.”
The Commission said Ministers, agency heads and law enforcement authorities have a responsibility to ensure that the rights of all persons are protected.
It described the matter as a test of Guyana’s institutions and their ability to hold powerful individuals accountable.
“This case represents a test of Guyana’s institutions on whether they are capable of holding the ‘powerful’ accountable. It is therefore an imperative that we must not fail in this instance.”
The Commission said it will continue to monitor developments surrounding the allegations.
This statement follows a complaint which was made on Monday, September 28, 2026, by a serving female Police Inspector, who provided investigators with a detailed statement alleging a pattern of sexual, physical and emotional abuse by Deputy Commissioner of Police Fizal Karimbaksh, who heads the Special Organised Crime Unit.
According to the woman’s statement, the alleged abuse included incidents of rape and threats to her life.
The allegations remain under investigation…
See full statement here:
“Culture of Sexual Misconduct and Impunity
The Women & Gender Equality Commission has taken note of the recent media reports in which a senior female police officer has accused a high-ranking male police officer of multiple sexual assaults. We have also taken note of the response from the Minister of Home Affairs under whose purview the Guyana Police Force resides.
Minister Waldron has said an investigation has been launched into the matter since January 2026 though he is still on the job. The Commission is therefore concerned by the deafening silence of the executive management team of the Guyana Police Force even after all these months.
Over the past several years, the Commission has done extensive work to educate the public as a whole but particularly people in the workplace with regard to the unlawfulness of sexual harassment and the gravity of sexual offences and has urged persons to report such matters recognizing that in many instances, victims are constrained by fear and embarrassment. What is particularly unacceptable in this instance, is that serving members of the Guyana Police Force, who are mandated to serve and protect the public, are themselves subject to sexual abuse from within their own institution. The victims very often, are themselves subject to the same fear and other constraints that are often the more potent features of sexual exploitation in the workplace and serve to retard them from reporting to the relevant agencies.
The senior police officer who made the accusations, overcame fear and embarrassment and was brave enough to report the incidents to the Minister of Home Affairs. An act which seemed to have resulted in her being transferred to another post. We are unable to confirm whether any appropriate actions were taken in response to the allegations of rape. Was the high-ranking officer relieved from duty as is customary in this type of case?
Every Guyanese has the right to work and to do so in a safe environment. No one in this country should ever be made to choose between their safety, their dignity and their livelihood. Human Rights are meaningless if those who violate it are protected by the very institutions charged with upholding said rights. It is the responsibility of all of us but in particular those who bear a duty of care, including Ministers, Agency Heads and Law Enforcement to ensure the rights of all rights holders are protected and upheld. This case represents a test of Guyana’s institutions on whether they are capable of holding the ‘powerful’ accountable. It is therefore an imperative that we must not fail in this instance.”
Sincerely,
Indranie Chandarpal (Ms.)
Chairperson
Women & Gender Equality Commission
Human Rights Commission Building
