Dear Editor,
In a statement published in the October 6 Guyana Chronicle (‘Minister Walrond rejects Red Thread’s misrepresentation of comments regarding Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh’), Minister Oneidge Walrond stated, “For the avoidance of doubt, I did not say that the complainant would be confronted by the accused. I did not mandate such a confrontation, and I have issued no instruction directing investigators to subject the complainant to any procedure contrary to the Sexual Offences Act. What I communicated was information provided to me concerning the investigative process.”
If Minister Walrond’s briefing on the investigation included mention of a confrontation, then as an officer of the court who knows better and as the Minister to whom the police force answers, she has a responsibility to instruct them that the law does not permit a confrontation.
And while it is true that Minister Walrond stated that Deputy Commissioner Karimbaksh should be placed on administrative leave, we are not concerned with her personal views on this matter. The question is, why is he is still in his position? As the Minister under whose portfolio the Guyana Police Force (GPF) falls, she must consult with other Ministers and Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken to establish the path to removing Fazil Karimbaksh from any position within the GPF where he may be able to exert influence on the investigation into the allegations against him by a female police inspector of rape and threatening behaviour.
Former Commissioner Paul Slowe has stated that the Public Service Commission is in fact not needed, and that the Commissioner can take immediate administrative action and send Karimbaksh on leave. There is also precedent – Police Commissioner Henry Greene was sent on leave in 2011 while an investigation was carried out into allegations of rape against him. And in 2012, after the charges of rape against Commissioner Greene were dismissed, Red Thread was among several women’s rights organisations that protested the Office of the President demanding his removal for professional misconduct, given his admission that he had sex with a woman who had sought assistance from his Office.
Minister Walrond referred to “the predictable selectivity of Red Thread’s public outrage” when it comes to “matters involving the PPP/C Government”. We would like to encourage the Minister to do some basic research, which will show that Red Thread has taken a public stand, whenever we are able, against whoever may be in government. A simple online search will show, for example, that in 2016, we led protests demanding the resignation of then Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence over her efforts to shield an APNU+AFC candidate who was accused of child molestation.
Let us be clear. In the interest of the protection of women and children, Red Thread has no friends.
Finally, Minister Walrond concludes that “[t]his is a serious criminal allegation involving a senior member of the Guyana Police Force…[that] deserves a serious investigation—not political theatre, manufactured controversy, or trial by public commentary”.
There is no question that an accusation of rape against such a senior officer requires serious investigation. Red Thread does not subscribe to “political theatre.” We are very happy that Minister Walrond agrees that “[t]he law must be followed consistently”, and we hope that she will in fact be overseeing an investigation that is “professional, impartial and thorough”. Such an investigation, to be credible, should begin with the immediate removal of Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh while the investigation is ongoing.
At the end of the day, the law will take its course. Hopefully it will take that course without undue influence from those who seek to shelter rapists and abusers of women.
Yours faithfully,
Karen de Souza
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