Hughes tells Nandlall: “Justice is Not Immaturity – It’s Leadership”

Attorney-at-law and Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Nigel Hughes, a has responded forcefully to recent comments made by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, asserting that advocating for justice in the wake of state violence is not an act of immaturity but a demonstration of leadership.

Hughes’ comments came after Nandlall accused him of being “reckless” and “irresponsible” in his response to a recent police-involved fatal shooting in Linden. On his “Issues in the News” programme, Tuesday night, Nandlall rejected Hughes’ criticism of the government’s handling of the incident, accusing him of undermining due process and attempting to inflame public sentiment. According to Nandlall, Hughes cannot be anywhere close to a government, accusing him of being without “the sense of maturity…the presence of mind.”

However, Hughes remains resolute in his call for justice, emphasising that his focus is on ensuring that no life is lost without answers, and that the government is held accountable for its actions.  The AFC leader has sharply criticised the government’s response to the recent killings in Linden, condemning the police’s ongoing use of excessive force that has led to the deaths and injuries of innocent civilians in police-involved shootings. He pointed specifically to the police killing of 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters on April 7, followed by the fatal shootings of Dan Johnson and Keon Fogenay—two other Lindeners—on April 8.

In a statement addressing Nandlall’s remarks, Hughes reaffirmed his commitment to justice for the people of Linden and criticised the government for failing to act on recommendations made following the July 2012 Linden tragedy in which several citizens were killed by police during a peaceful protest.

 “Speaking the truth about state violence is not immaturity. It is leadership grounded in principle and duty to the people of Guyana,” the AFC leader pointed out. He emphasised that the calls for accountability in Linden are not politically motivated but are rooted in the principles of justice and governance.

In his statement, Hughes recalled that following the 2012 incident, a Commission of Inquiry (COI) was established under the then-People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, which made several crucial recommendations, including the creation of an independent investigative body to probe police killings and a review of police protocols on the use of lethal force.

However, Hughes lamented that, despite the COI’s recommendations, none of the proposed reforms had been implemented. “Instead of strengthening trust between the state and the people, the government ignored the COI’s findings,” Hughes said, pointing out that the failure to act had led to a tragic recurrence of similar incidents this month. On

“The people of Linden have not forgotten,” Hughes asserted. “They were promised accountability once. They will not be fooled again when the same police force, unchanged and unrestrained, continues to execute citizens with impunity.”

Hughes reiterated his commitment to justice, declaring that he stood in solidarity with the victims and called for the government to take responsibility for its failure to protect its citizens.

The AFC leader has also rejected Nandlall’s attempts to dismiss his concerns as mere political scoring. “The people of Guyana are wiser than that. They know what maturity looks like: it is the courage to speak truth to power, to stand with victims, and to demand change—not just in words, but in action,” he stated.

Hughes also made it clear that the AFC’s General and Regional election campaign was focused on a future of clean governance and accountability, where respect for every community is paramount. “I stand with Linden. I stand for justice. And I stand by my words,” he concluded.