The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility has launched an investigation of the allegation that a cavity search was conducted on a 17-year-old Barbados-bound passenger at the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle on Sunday.
Responding to a report published in yesterday’s edition of Stabroek News, under the headline “Family seeking legal advice after cavity search of teen,” the force yesterday acknowledged that a search was conducted by a female rank of the Narcotics Branch but added that she has denied performing a cavity search
A statement has been obtained from the rank, the force also noted in a brief statement.
Stabroek News was informed that the Ministry of Social Protection has launched an independent investigation.
Stabroek News yesterday reported the teen’s account of the alleged search, which she said was the most “embarrassing and humiliating,” experience for her.
The teen said she was singled out for a search from a line of passengers who were preparing to board a LIAT flight on Sunday morning.
The teen noted that she was informed by the officer that she had to do a strip search and was directed to a room.
“When I went into the room, I started to take off my clothes because she said it was a strip search. I stayed in my underwear. The officer came in the room and told me to take it off. She then told me to squat and cough three times. I did that and she took her finger and inserted it into my private parts,” the teen said.
The young woman said she is seeking a public apology from the agency and the officer and that she would not allow the matter to go away as she believes “it should never happen again to any woman….”
The teen’s aunt had said that the girl was receiving counselling to overcome the traumatic experience.
“We don’t want this to happen again and so we are seeking legal advice… we need to be treated like humans and I am ashamed this happened in Guyana, my home country,” the aunt declared in an interview with Stabroek News.
