Overseas assistance for police investigations based on Gov’t to Gov’t requests- Minister Trotman

Georgetown, GINA, July 21, 2016

The requests for overseas assistance by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for help with investigations are a matter for Government to Government consideration. This was explained today, by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman in response to a question posed about possible assistance being sought overseas for investigations into the grenade attack on Kaieteur News.

The Minister said that the act is not triggered by institution but by State, “So it is the responsibility of the state to seek another state’s intervention…the whole process of extradition or going through the process and so forth is a state function that is covered under treaty and it requires the government’s action not the police.”

The Minister declined to say specifically if requests for overseas assistance for the afore mentioned investigation were already made, but said he wouldn’t be surprised if this had occurred. “It is a serious matter that has to be thoroughly investigated and all perpetrators brought to justice.”

Three men have since been charged with lobbing a grenade at a vehicle belonging to Kaieteur News Publisher, Glen Lall on June 4, 2016.