-says there will be no ‘cover up’ or ‘pressure’ from anyone

PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has called attention to the duplicitous nature of the Opposition as it relates to dealing with corruption and highlighted the current government’s steadfast approach to stamping it out and upholding integrity.

During a press conference at the party’s headquarters on Thursday, the General Secretary said that the allegation of corruption levelled against Deputy Commissioner of Police (ag) Calvin Brutus is being investigated by the Special, Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

While Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton had made public comments on the matter and called for an investigation to be conducted by a source outside of Guyana, Dr Jagdeo reminded him how the previous coalition government dealt with similar matters.

He recalled that in 2019, former Crime Chief Lyndon Alves was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the exposure of a network of alleged corruption in the Guyana Police Force’s ‘B’ Division (Berbice).

Alves was suspended a few days after the force announced that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was conducting an internal inquiry in response to media claims of corruption inside the division.

Regarding this present case involving Brutus, Dr Jagdeo made it clear that there will be no cover up and “no pressure by anyone,” because President, Dr Irfaan Ali, himself, is looking into this matter.

The PPP General Secretary also called for persons to not vilify the police.

“A lot of them do a great job and they’re hardworking people serving this country and we must not for the purpose of politics or for ratings or to get a good newspaper article, vilify people in the police force,” he said.

Last week, Brutus opted to take annual leave to facilitate the probe.