Dear Editor,
The Guyana Police Force’s recent media release highlighting Senior Superintendent Dr. Nicola Kendall’s participation in the United States Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) reads more like a public relations exercise than a substantive update on police reform. While such international exposure is not without value, the framing of this engagement risks misleading the public into equating attendance with achievement.
The IVLP is a longstanding professional exchange programme designed to foster dialogue, expose participants to governance models, and encourage cross-cultural understanding. It is not, however, a certification of reform, nor is it evidence of institutional transformation. Participation alone does not translate into improved policing outcomes, strengthened accountability, or enhanced public trust.
Yet the Guyana Police Force appears eager to blur that distinction.
By aligning Dr. Kendall’s attendance with the GPF Strategic Plan 2022–2026, the release implies that meaningful progress is being made in key areas such as professionalism, accountability, and modernization. But where is the measurable evidence?
Where are the performance indicators, the independent audits, the demonstrable improvements in public confidence, crime resolution rates, or internal disciplinary systems?
Reform is not an abstract aspiration; it is a process grounded in outcomes. It requires structural change, cultural transformation, and consistent leadership. It demands transparency, not carefully worded press statements that substitute optics for substance.
More troubling is the continued absence of strategic clarity within the Force. If the Strategic Planning and Implementation Unit is to be taken seriously, it must move beyond participation in international forums and demonstrate how such engagements are being translated into actionable policy, operational improvements, and institutional accountability. Without this, the Unit risks becoming symbolic rather than functional.
Equally concerning is the media’s passive role in reproducing these narratives. Too often, official statements are published with little interrogation, allowing state agencies to shape public perception without scrutiny. Responsible journalism requires more than repetition; it requires verification, context, and critical analysis.
The inclusion of multiple countries in the IVLP cohort, while noteworthy, further underscores the point: this was a shared learning environment, not a tailored intervention for Guyana’s policing challenges. Each participating country brings its own complexities, and the value of such programmes lies in how lessons are adapted—not in the mere fact of attendance.
If the Guyana Police Force is serious about reform, it must shift its focus from external validation to internal performance. The public does not need to be reminded that officers are traveling and participating in international programmes. It needs to see safer communities, fairer policing, and a system that holds itself accountable.
Until then, these announcements will continue to ring hollow—polished statements masking an institution still searching for direction, coherence, and credibility.
Real reform cannot be imported. It must be built.
Sincerely
Hemdutt Kumar
