The youth arm of the Alliance For Change (AFC) has joined the growing chorus demanding an independent investigation into the death of 16-year-old Altaf King, declaring that the Guyana Police Force cannot be entrusted to investigate allegations against its own officers and warning that anything less would further erode public confidence in the justice system.
The call comes nearly two weeks after King’s death on June 25, during a police pursuit along the Princeton Access Road in Corriverton, Berbice—a case that has ignited public outrage and intensified scrutiny of police conduct.
Police have maintained that the teenager lost control of the motorcycle he was riding while attempting to evade officers before crashing into a Guyana Power and Light utility pole. However, King’s relatives and eyewitnesses have challenged that version of events, alleging that a police patrol vehicle struck the motorcycle from behind, causing the fatal collision. Those competing accounts sparked protests in Corriverton and renewed demands for accountability.
In a sharply worded statement released on Tuesday July 7, Youth For Change (YFC) said the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death have raised “serious public concern” and placed the conduct of police officers at the centre of the investigation, making an internal police probe fundamentally unacceptable.
“The police cannot and should not investigate the police,” the organisation declared, arguing that any investigation conducted by the Force would inevitably be viewed with suspicion because the conduct of police ranks is itself under scrutiny.
“Given the gravity of the matter and the need to preserve public confidence, Youth For Change believes that any investigation must be conducted by independent persons or an independent body with no institutional interest in the outcome,” the statement said.
The organisation warned that allowing the Guyana Police Force to investigate its own officers would undermine both the credibility of the investigation and the administration of justice.
“An internal investigation, regardless of its stated intentions, would risk being viewed with suspicion by the public and by the grieving family. For justice to be both done and seen to be done, the process must be transparent, credible, and free from any appearance of bias.“
The AFC youth arm is urging the authorities to immediately establish an independent investigative mechanism, secure all evidence and keep the public informed as the investigation unfolds.
It also called on all responsible agencies to treat the matter with the “seriousness, sensitivity, and urgency it deserves.”
King’s death has become the latest flashpoint in longstanding public concerns over police accountability in Guyana. In previous cases involving alleged police misconduct, families, political parties and civil society organizations have repeatedly questioned the credibility of internal investigations and called for independent oversight to ensure transparency and public confidence.
Expressing sympathy to the teenager’s family, Youth For Change said another young Guyanese life had been cut short before reaching its full potential.
“Youth For Change and the Alliance For Change extends its profound sympathies to the family, friends, and loved ones of young Altaf King. We mourn the loss of another Guyanese youth whose life ended far too soon, before he had the opportunity to fully make his mark on society. At this painful time, the family deserves answers, accountability, and a process that inspires confidence rather than doubt.“
The organisation pledged to continue pressing for justice and warned that the authorities’ response to the case will be closely watched.
“Youth For Change will continue to stand with citizens who demand fairness, transparency, and justice, and calls on the authorities to act in a manner that reassures the nation that no life will be treated lightly and no concern will be dismissed.“
Although the Guyana Police Force has said its Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating the incident, pressure is mounting for an inquiry that is independent of the Force. With conflicting accounts of how Altaf King died and growing public distrust of internal police investigations, the case has become a test of whether the authorities are prepared to subject law enforcement to the same level of accountability they expect from the public.
