Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond today told the National Assembly that there has been a decline in domestic violence reports, while prosecution and convictions have increased, as she rebutted We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) MP, Toshana Famey-Corlette.

MP Famey-Corlette, who opened today’s debate, told the House that in 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs was allocated approximately $37 Billion, and in 2026, some $42 Billion has been set aside for the Ministry.

She said while the figures have gone up, cases of crime continue to be of major concern.

“Mr. Speaker, while total domestic violence reports run into the thousands, the most serious indicator, domestic violence related murders, doubled from 13 to 26 in one year. So, everything is going up,” the MP said.

Noting that the Home Affairs Ministry is not “underfunded,” MP Famey-Corlette submitted that the issue lies with the direction, priorities, and the judgment of the Home Affairs Minister. She said because of that, the Ministry of Home Affairs is looking less like a pillar of security and more like a compass, spinning without control.

But Minister Walrond told the House that MP Famey-Corlette’s statistics were inaccurate.

“I don’t know where those figures have come from but Mr. Speaker we, in fact, are experiencing in 2025 a decrease in the reports of domestic violence, and an increase in the proportion of convictions as it relates to the cases that have been reported,” Minister Walrond said.

The Home Affairs Minister said the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Police Force have seen “historic levels” of investments by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration between 2020 and 2025. She said the investments will continue in 2026.

“On every level, we are seeing returns on the investments – crime is down historically by 25.5%; serious crime down by 25.5% by the end of 2025. Recidivism rate…is the lowest in the region at 14%. The rest of the Caribbean Region has seen a recidivism rate of 40 and 50%,” the Home Affairs Minister said.

She said the decline in crime is as a result of intelligence policing and other measures being implemented by the Guyana Police Force, and investments made by the Government.

 “Crime is on the decline Mr. Speaker. There is a serious reduction of crime being driven by intelligence led policing, expansion of our surveillance infrastructure, increase police presence, community policing partnerships, investment in training and human capital,” she said.

The Home Affairs Minister said security remains a key pillar of development, and the investments aid in security and crime fighting. However, she said the threat of financial crimes on the nation’s development remains a challenge as she underscored the importance of upholding the Anti-Money Laundering laws.

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