The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry has issued a call for an independent probe into allegations of corruption and financial impropriety within the Guyana Police Force.

In a statement this afternoon, the GCCI said it has grown increasingly concerned over recent revelations of the high level of corruption and financial impropriety within the Police Force, and it wants an immediate independent investigation. 

In recent weeks, the Guyana Police Force has been embarrassed by allegations of widespread corruption against senior ranks.

Last week, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn hammered senior ranks of the Force and raised allegations of procurement fraud that might be prominent in the Guyana Police Force.

Two weeks ago, Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, requested and was granted leave to allow an investigation into allegations of financial impropriety leveled against him.

Since then, reports have surfaced about millions of dollars discovered in the credit union accounts of senior ranks of the Force. In two cases, there are reports that the accounts contained hundreds of millions of dollars. The Guyana Police Force has remained silent on the claims.

In its statement today, the Chamber of Commerce said as the body responsible for upholding and enforcing the laws of Guyana, it is repugnant that the very individuals who have been empowered to maintain law and order in the country are engaging in malpractices, which brings to fore questions of the GPF’s credibility and objectivity.

The GCCI said if the agents of the state who are responsible for maintaining stability and lawfulness are engaged in malfeasance, then they can no longer be trusted to uphold the standards that they ought to be enforcing. 

“The Guyana Police Force must not operate with impunity—in fact, the members of the Force must be held at a higher degree of accountability. Failure to act can be viewed as assenting to corruption, and this can lead to a descent into lawlessness,” the local business development body said. 

Last week, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo said that the Special Organized Crime Unit, (SOCU) will be leading the investigations into the allegations leveled against senior officers of the Force, but the GCCI said an independent probe will be best suited.

“Furthermore, an independent probe is needed in the interest of objectivity and transparency, as the Special Organised Crime Unit, which has been tasked with investigating these issues, is an arm of the GPF,” the GCCI noted.

The business body said the circumstances are “abhorrent and untenable” and calls for it to be dealt with swiftly, and for those found culpable to face the brunt of the law.

The political opposition has also been calling for an independent investigation into the claims of corruption within the Police Force.

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