CHARITY, Region Two – Opposition Member of Parliament Juretha Fernandes has accused the Guyana Police Force of denying MP Sherod Duncan access to his legal counsel following his arrest at Charity, where opposition parliamentarians had traveled during the ongoing response to the MV Barima tragedy.
Speaking outside the Charity Police Station, Fernandes said Duncan was taken into police custody after a confrontation over access to the area where grieving families had gathered. According to Fernandes, opposition MPs had visited Charity to obtain updates on the country’s maritime disaster and to support affected families while other parliamentarians had traveled by boat to assist with search and recovery efforts.
Fernandes alleged that when the MPs first entered the area, police officers did not object to their presence and greeted them respectfully. She claimed the situation changed only after Minister Colin Croal arrived, spoke with police officers, and officers subsequently instructed the parliamentarians to leave, stating they were acting on instructions. She said no access restrictions had previously been enforced and no checks were being made to determine whether individuals were relatives of victims.
According to Fernandes, the opposition members complied with the instructions and quietly moved beyond the barricades to avoid creating any disturbance for grieving families. However, she said Duncan was later detained and taken to the Charity Police Station.
Fernandes further alleged that police refused to allow Duncan to speak with his attorney despite repeated requests. Holding what she said was Duncan’s attorney on the telephone, Fernandes maintained that access to legal counsel was being denied, describing the alleged refusal as a violation of his rights. She estimated that approximately 10 to 15 minutes had elapsed without Duncan being permitted to communicate with his lawyer.
During the livestream, Fernandes criticized what she described as the “weaponization of the Guyana Police Force,” arguing that police resources should instead be focused on assisting search-and-recovery operations related to the MV Barima disaster rather than detaining elected representatives. She also expressed concern over what she characterized as restrictions on opposition MPs attempting to engage with affected families.
Earlier reports indicated that Duncan had been asked to leave the restricted area and complied. He was subsequently arrested after allegedly flying a drone from the Information Centre area at Charity, rather than near the MV Barima recovery site.
The Guyana Police Force has not yet publicly responded to Fernandes’ allegations regarding Duncan’s access to legal counsel.
