Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond on Wednesday charged police inspectors to tighten supervision, reject corruption, and embrace technology-driven policing, warning that the “old ways” will no longer work as Guyana’s rapid development raises public expectations and new security risks.
Walrond delivered the charge at the Guyana Police Force’s Inspectors’ Conference 2026, held at the Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, under the theme: “Modern Policing for a Modern Nation: Integrating Technology, Innovation, and Leadership to Strengthen Public Safety and Trust.” The two-day conference runs from February 25 to 26.
“This is a time to reimagine policing, where we are integrating technology, innovation… a lot of it is transparency, removing human biases,” Walrond told inspectors, noting that technology will bring measurable performance standards. “We no longer have the room to waffle, to make excuses, because you’re going to be measured… by clear data and clear numbers.”
She stressed that the country’s growth, fueled by oil and expanding non-oil activity, means citizens will demand higher standards of policing, while the State must keep Guyana attractive to investors and visitors.
“The development that is happening in our country cannot be sustained if our country is not safe, if people… don’t feel secure,” the minister said, pointing to changing policing demands tied to new infrastructure, border concerns, and rising traffic volumes.
Walrond told the conference that reform will not be delivered by speeches, but through day-to-day leadership at police stations and on patrol, particularly by inspectors who sit “between strategy and execution.”
“The reform that we are seeing… is going to be delivered at your police stations… when you are on patrol… and through the daily decisions that you make, as inspectors,” she said.
A major focus of her address was discipline and supervision, which she described as the deciding factor in whether reforms succeed. Citing Standing Order Number Six, Walrond urged inspectors to maintain authority and impartiality, avoid undue familiarity with ranks, correct misconduct immediately, and ensure members of the public receive prompt attention.
“Strong supervision produces discipline, and discipline produces performance… and performance produces… public trust,” she said, adding that once trust is established, “most of our problems are solved.”
On corruption, Walrond issued a blunt warning of zero tolerance, telling inspectors that the fight is not optional.
“Modern policing… looks like a station that rejects corruption,” she said. “Corruption is not a minor breach. It is a national security threat, and will be treated that way in 2026, zero tolerance for bribery, collusion, abuse of authority, or neglect of duty.”
She argued that corruption thrives where supervisors are weak, reminding inspectors that accountability begins with them.
“Corruption survives where supervision is weak… the buck stops with you, the inspector,” Walrond stated.
The minister also highlighted priorities she said must show up in station operations and reports, including court-ready case files, disciplined use of body cameras and digital systems, measurable response times, stronger traffic enforcement, improved domestic violence response, border modernisation, cybercrime and narcotics enforcement, and reliable follow-up to public complaints.
“Technology… does not fix weak supervision,” she cautioned. “It exposes it.”
Walrond closed by reminding inspectors that the Government has increased investment in the Force and provided policy direction, but the public will judge policing by outcomes.
“Performance will not be measured in effort; it will be measured in results,” she said. “What remains is execution, and execution rests with you.”
