THE Government of Guyana took credible steps during 2024 to identify and punish officials implicated in human rights abuses, according to the latest United States Department of State Human Rights Report.

While the report acknowledged that some human rights concerns remained, including credible accounts of arbitrary or unlawful killings, it noted that authorities pursued investigations and disciplinary measures against those accused of misconduct.

One highlighted case involved the July police shooting of Gordon Sancho, whom officers alleged had fired at them before being killed by return fire. As of late September, the incident was under investigation, underscoring what the report described as ongoing accountability processes.

The document emphasised that Guyana’s constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and while there were isolated reports of violations, the government generally observed these legal safeguards.

Notably, steps were taken to address prolonged pretrial detention through legislative reform, including the passage of the Criminal Law Procedure (Paper Committal) Bill, which replaces lengthy in-person hearings with written submissions to expedite trials.

The report also found no credible evidence of torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by government officials during the year, further indicating a commitment to upholding constitutional protections.

The US assessment suggests that Guyana’s current approach to investigating and punishing rights violations reflects an active stance against impunity.