UPDATED: Ali told to curtail access to crime scenes; talks up police procedures reform

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 13:14 by Writer

President Irfaan Ali said his administration has been told to limit access to crime scenes while being mindful of balancing that with media freedoms, according to a clarification by his press liaison, Edward Layne.

“One international specialist told me it’s maybe a good time also to review the openness – when I say openness, not the freedom of media – but the openness of access to media on these sites and the responsibility, also, that is enshrined to everyone,” he told a news conference to announce the outcome of an autopsy on the body of Adrianna Younge, the 11-year-old girl who was found in a pool at Double Day Hotel, Tuschen East Bank Essequibo last Thursday.

In an earlier Demerara Waves Online News report, Dr Ali’s use of “sites” in reference to crimes rather than “crime scenes” and its juxtaposition with media freedom were construed to mean online content.

But Mr Layne, who is the Head of government’s Department of Public Information, reiterated that the President’s overall context was meant to convey that he was referring to crime scenes.

Historically, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has always emphasised to the media and to the wider public to keep away from crime scenes as such action could adversely impact the evidence.

The Guyana Press Association and the GPF had more than 10 years ago developed a set of guidelines governing the media and police expectations at crime scenes, as well as the lines of communication between the media and the police.

Dr Ali conceded that “very deep-seated issues” such as restricting access to certain “sites” would be part of a difficult conversation for Guyanese.

“You know if someone goes there and portrays a certain reality, then that influences so we have to, as a country, be mature enough to recognise all of these issues,” he said.

He remarked that his concern was centered around the fact that Guyana is heading into general and regional elections later this year.

“As President, this is an election year also, so I know also all the playing and players that are out there and the objectives,” he said.

In the context of the previous report on the President’s remarks, Demerara Waves Online News had reported that Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has repeatedly spoken about the importance of social media in Guyana’s political landscape and uncovering atrocities by the government and a number of agencies such as the police force.

“Unfortunately, social media is one of our help. Unfortunately for them, the cellphone has become a tool for justice and defence,” he said at the opening of Linden Town Week.

Over the past 24 hours, several persons have taken to social media calling for destruction and the killing of top government officials.

Police have since issued wanted bulletins for many of them.

The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration had previously asked the then Guyana Telephone and Telegraph to ban access to certain websites under Moses Nagamootoo’s tenure as Minister of Information.

Eventually, government lifted the restriction IP (internet protocol) addresses.

While repeatedly stating that it is tolerant of criticism, the PPPC administration has often hit back at known anti-government or pro-opposition activists on social media. A number of privately-owned locally-based media houses have also been sharply criticised and labelled as “hostile” by the PPPC.

Police procedures

The President also announced that the Guyana government would be seeking regional and international assistance to reform the laws, regulations and procedures of the Guyana Police Force.

He also said the laws governing public places, including safety at pools, would be introduced to proactively deal with reports of missing persons.

He alluded to the need for media communication reform, especially in an era of social media.

“Much work must be continued to ensure that we have a proper communication strategy and a media engagement strategy that enables, especially in this world, where we have social media and so much information set that is available out there.

It is very critical that timely, reliable, factual information shape the narrative and I think this is something we have to look at deeply and ensure that our system is geared towards delivering justice,” he said.