Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Bishop Juan Edghill wants full disclosure on the persons who have been blacklisted from leaving the country by the controversial Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
With much concern, Edghill wrote the Chief Immigration Officer on May 9, 2017, acting under the provisions of the Access to Information Act of 2011, for details on the identity of the individuals who were reported as being blacklisted from departing the jurisdiction.
According to reports, SOCU has blacklisted over 200 individuals from leaving the country in light of its investigations stemming from some 19 forensic audit reports submitted by Government.
Reports in another section of the media indicate a “Government source” disclosed that restrictions on travel were instituted to ensure persons who are fingered in acts of wrongdoings remain in the country to answer to the allegations.
Bishop Juan Edghill
Some of the high profile persons under the entity’s radar are former President Bharrat Jagdeo; former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall; former Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon; among a slew of other former Government officials.
Time and again, the parliamentary Opposition has raised concerns about the operations of SOCU – particularly its deviation from its mandate and its perceived political motives.
SOCU was established to probe organised crimes under the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act but many are of the view that the entity is now tasked with conducting political witch-hunting exercises.
The most recent is its investigation and subsequent charges against Nandlall just days after the substantive Attorney General, Basil Williams threatened to have him arrested.
The question of SOCU’s new role came under scrutiny following the death of three persons, including two civilians and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank, after the Army officer was involved in high-speed chase against the family members of former MP, Charles Ramon Jr.
