Arbitrary killings by the government or its agents along with allegations of government corruption, including among police officials, have been listed as two of the most significant human rights problems that Guyana faced in 2015.
The United States Department of State recently released its 2015 Report on Human Rights Practices across the world and raised concerns over the arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life in Guyana.
The report said there were several reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings during the year. It recalled that in July, a member of the police anti-smuggling unit shot and killed Charles Caesar while attempting to arrest him.
“Police reported that Caesar was suspected to have smuggled illegal goods into the country and attempted to run away to avoid arrest.”
Guyana had a change in government in May 2015 for the first time in two decades.
The report also raised eyebrows over laws that discriminate against women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex persons.
Other human rights problems included lengthy pretrial detention. “There was a lack of independent and transparent procedures for handling allegations of abuses by security force members. Prosecutions when pursued were extremely lengthy, and convictions rare, leading to a widespread perception that security force members and government officials enjoyed impunity,” it noted.
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances. As it relates to torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, Guyana’s law prohibits such practices.
There were reports, nonetheless, alleging mistreatment of inmates by prison officials as well as allegations of police abuse of suspects and detainees.
Concerns were also raised over the country’s prison and jail conditions, particularly in police holding cells, “were harsh and potentially life threatening due to gross overcrowding, physical abuse, and inadequate sanitary conditions and medical care.”
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