The Guyana Government has reaffirmed its commitment to human rights, democratic governance and the rule of law on the international stage, but its declarations face scrutiny at home over longstanding questions about accountability, press freedom and a promised investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings.
Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Public Affairs and Information, Kwame McCoy, delivered Guyana’s statement at the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania, held from October 5 to 9, 2026.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), McCoy highlighted Guyana’s commitment to strengthening constitutional institutions, promoting accountability and expanding access to justice. He also pointed to the country’s participation in the 2025 Universal Periodic Review, during which Guyana supported 146 of 206 recommendations received.
McCoy told the international gathering:
For us, human rights and democracy are not abstract principles confined to international declarations. They are essential to the dignity of our people, the legitimacy of our institutions, and the sustainable development of our country.
Yet the Government’s international commitments must also be measured against its progress in addressing unresolved human rights concerns identified by international bodies.
One significant outstanding issue is the promised Commission of Inquiry into alleged extrajudicial killings during the period of political and criminal violence between 2002 and 2006.
In its Concluding Observations on the Third Periodic Report of Guyana, adopted in March 2024 and published by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on May 3, 2024, the Committee raised concerns about allegations of extrajudicial killings and the use of force by police and security services. It called for effective and independent investigations, accountability for violations and action to address the concerns identified.
The UN’s official report provides the international body’s assessment and recommendations concerning Guyana’s human rights obligations.
The issue gained renewed attention in March 2024 when Vice President and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo publicly committed the Government to proceeding with the inquiry.
Jagdeo stated at a press conference on March 28, 2024:
The government will be going ahead with the COI because the UN wants it; Granger wanted it and I hope that there will be no prevarication anymore. There shall be a COI.
That commitment raises an important question that two years after no progress has been made towards establishing and conducting the inquiry.
The killings and violence of that period remain deeply contested in Guyana’s political and social history. An independent and credible investigation would provide an opportunity to establish the facts, examine the conduct of state agencies where warranted and address the concerns of affected families.
Press freedom has also attracted international scrutiny. Freedom House’s Guyana report for 2026 identifies intimidation of journalists, including intimidation attributed to the Government, as a concern affecting the country’s media environment.
The Government has rejected criticism of its record. In April 2026, McCoy described the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index assessment as “deeply flawed” and misleading. However, that dismissal contrasts sharply with concerns over the Government’s treatment of independent media, including cessation of advertisement and outstanding payments for state advertising have contributed to the financial struggles and closure of media houses, while other outlets have been denied government advertising.
Media practitioners and press freedom advocates have raised concerns that access to state advertising is influenced by whether media organisations refrain from criticising the Government, raising serious questions about transparency, media independence and the use of public funds to exert pressure on editorial coverage.
The contrasting assessments underscore the need for transparency, independent scrutiny and credible safeguards for journalists and citizens exercising their democratic rights.
At the IPU assembly, McCoy highlighted the importance of institutions such as the Elections Commission, judiciary, Audit Office, Ombudsman and rights commissions. He also said Parliament must provide oversight of executive action and promote public participation.
Those principles are central to the credibility of the Government’s message. Democratic institutions are not strengthened by declarations alone; their effectiveness depends on independence, transparency, accountability and the willingness to address difficult questions.
Guyana’s participation in international human rights mechanisms and its support for recommendations are important steps. The more consequential test, however, is whether those commitments produce measurable action at home, including progress on long-promised investigations and protections for the free exercise of democratic rights
