Calls for Deputy Commissioner of Police Fizal Karimbaksh to step aside amid rape and death-threat allegations have intensified, with Human Services Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, former President Samuel Hinds and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira expressing concern over his continued occupancy of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
The concerns emerged in interviews conducted by journalist Leroy “Big” Smith for BIG Smith News Watch, whose sustained reporting has kept the allegations and the authorities’ response in the public spotlight.
Nearly a month after the woman reportedly approached Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond to report the alleged incidents, questions remain about the handling of the case, the arrangements for Karimbaksh’s leave and the standards expected of a senior law-enforcement official facing allegations of such gravity.
Persaud says Karimbaksh should go on leave
In a telephone interview with Smith on Monday, October 19, Persaud said the allegations must be thoroughly investigated and that no individual should be above the law.
“Once a report has been made, the allegation ought to be thoroughly investigated, and for me, nobody is above the law, and the law is very clear,” the minister said.
Persaud went further, making her position on Karimbaksh’s continued occupancy of office explicit.
“A person should be held accountable, and by that I mean there are no two ways about this, and due process should involve him going on leave to facilitate the investigation; that is my view on this matter,” she told Smith.
She said established procedures must be followed, with the police responsible for investigating the allegations and the courts determining the matter where charges are brought.
Persaud also pointed to support available through her ministry, including counselling, professional assistance and legal representation for victims.
Opposition Leader demands removal
Opposition Leader Mohamed has called for Karimbaksh to leave office immediately, urging President Irfaan Ali to remove the senior police officer he appointed.
In his interview with Smith, Mohamed questioned the implications of allowing an officer facing serious allegations to remain in a senior law-enforcement position while the matter remains unresolved.
“Karimbaksh should not be sitting there; what example are we setting for fellow Guyanese, and what message are we sending to women in this country who are going through the same situation with abuse and rape?” Mohamed asked.
The Opposition Leader said Wednesday, October 21, would mark 31 days since the woman reportedly approached Walrond and recounted two alleged encounters of rape and death threats while holding her young baby.
Mohamed argued that the continued uncertainty surrounding Karimbaksh’s position raises questions about the message being sent to victims of sexual violence.
Police response under scrutiny
The police force’s handling of Karimbaksh’s leave arrangements has added another dimension to the controversy.
The Guyana Police Force reportedly announced that Karimbaksh had been sent on leave following the allegations. However, he returned to work the following day and, through his lawyer, challenged a letter issued by Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken.
After refusing to proceed on leave, Karimbaksh was reportedly informed that he was barred from entering SOCU, where he serves as head. He subsequently challenged that instruction and threatened legal proceedings against Hicken, arguing that the restriction prevented him from performing his lawful duties.
The conflicting developments have raised questions about the effectiveness and consistency of the administrative response, as well as whether appropriate arrangements have been made to facilitate an impartial investigation.
Hinds, Teixeira weigh in
Former President and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds described the circumstances surrounding the allegations and Karimbaksh’s continued tenure as deeply troubling.
Speaking to Smith by telephone on Monday, Hinds acknowledged that he was not in Guyana regularly and might not be familiar with every aspect of the matter.
“I am not there so I don’t have all the nuances, but certainly as you put it, it is not a good thing; certainly he and his lawyers have a different story, but I would say it’s awful, it’s an awful thing,” Hinds said.
Meanwhile, former Home Affairs Minister and current Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira said she would have sent Karimbaksh on leave if she had possessed the authority to do so.
“If it was me in the Ministry of Home Affairs and I had the power to send home a Deputy Commissioner of Police, I would have, but I am not; until the matter is over,” Teixeira told Smith.
She maintained that the allegations should be investigated and that the matter should proceed through the courts if charges are brought.
Smith’s pursuit of accountability
Through persistent reporting and interviews with senior political figures across the government, opposition and former administration, Smith has waged a sustained, one-man crusade to keep the allegations in the public domain and press for answers about the authorities’ response.
His reporting has brought together calls for Karimbaksh to step aside, questions about the police force’s handling of the leave arrangements and concerns about the example set for women reporting sexual violence.
Although the allegations have not been adjudicated and Karimbaksh is entitled to due process, questions remain over whether he will be placed on leave, whether the investigation will proceed without interference, and whether the authorities will provide a clear account of the action being taken.
