Two days after saying that he would ask the Police Commissioner for an update on the findings of the audit of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday disclosed that he had not received any new information.
“…That remains the position as I haven’t been given any information other than that, is that the [audit] officers have asked for further statements to be taken and that, I think, is what is being done now,” Ramjattan said, while adding that this is in keeping with what was recommended after legal advice was sought.
He was responding to questions from the media following the launch of the National Action Plan for the prevention and response to Trafficking in Persons, 2019-2020.
Stabroek News gathered subsequently that on May 15th, the Guyana Police Force’s Audit Department was instructed to take the additional statements, after the report was reviewed by the police legal advisor, retired Justice Claudette Singh. The report, which contained damning findings, reached the desk of Justice Singh that same day. Almost one month has passed since this instruction was given and the report has not been returned to Justice Singh.
