Duncan applies parliamentary pressure in Karimbaksh rape probe
October 22 2026
Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan has formally submitted questions to the National Assembly, calling on Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond to provide clear answers regarding the legal authority and safeguards surrounding investigations into senior police officers, particularly as concerns mount over the handling of rape-accused Deputy Commissioner of Police, Fizal Karimbaksh.
The Parliamentary Question on Notice, submitted on October 16, 2026, for oral reply under the subject “Interim Safeguards During Investigation of Senior Police Officers,” zeroes in on interim measures, operational restrictions, and disciplinary mechanisms applicable to top brass within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) when facing ongoing criminal or administrative investigations.
Duncan’s inquiry specifically asks the Minister, “without asking the Minister to comment on the merits of any criminal allegation under investigation,” to state the position as at October 6, 2026, regarding “(a) The lawful authority relied upon by the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Guyana Police Force for placing an officer holding the rank of Deputy Commissioner on administrative leave or otherwise restricting operational duties while an investigation is ongoing,” a measure directly applicable to senior ranks like rape-accused Karimbaksh.
The submission further presses the Ministry on whether “(c) Whether any written delegation relevant to the exercise of disciplinary authority over senior ranks was in force.” Turning to investigation safeguards, Duncan is demanding transparency on whether “(d) Whether the applicable procedures permitted a senior officer under investigation to retain access to operational records, databases, personnel or premises relevant to the investigation,” and requesting details on “(e) The safeguards in place to protect complainants and witnesses against retaliation or interference.”
He emphasized that the questions expressly refrain from asking the Minister to comment on the merits of any underlying criminal allegations, focusing strictly on procedural integrity and institutional accountability.
In a statement issued on October 22, MP Duncan revealed that following the initial submission, the Clerk of the National Assembly’s office requested adjustments on October 20 prior to forwarding the notice to the Speaker of the House.
The Clerk’s office advised the removal of two sub-clauses, including original part “(b) How the absence of a constituted Police Service Commission affected the exercise of that authority,” which was cited as seeking an opinion contrary to Standing Order 20(1)(j), alongside another inquiry regarding progress on reconstituting the PSC, which falls under the purview of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appointments.
Duncan agreed to the requested modifications on October 21, renumbering the submission while retaining all core substantive queries regarding police safeguards and administrative leave powers.
In addition to the oral questions on police safeguards, Duncan has submitted a separate written question seeking the implementation status of a system designed to track unanswered emergency calls to police stations across the country, as well as whether key performance and service indicators will be published for public scrutiny.
