Ministry of Home Affairs Orders Security Review of GPF Command Centre After Surveillance Footage Allegedly Leaked

According to Kaieteur News, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed a review of security procedures at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Command Centre located at Liliendaal, subsequent to claims of unauthorized access to and the disclosure of surveillance footage. The ministry expressed that the alleged unauthorized access, extraction, and disclosure of the surveillance footage is a matter of significant concern.

On Friday, October 30, 2026, Azruddin Mohamed and Police Constable Ryan Greene, who is 20 years old, were remanded to custody after appearing before the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. Both individuals were jointly charged with the unauthorized giving of electronic data. In a statement released on Sunday evening, the ministry asserted that the matter is currently under police investigation, which must proceed based on evidence and in adherence to the law. The ministry also stated that political office does not grant immunity from investigation, nor can political affiliation serve as a basis for prosecution.

Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, noted that such actions would constitute an abuse of entrusted access, potentially compromising sensitive investigations, undermining operational security, and interfering with the proper administration of justice. The ministry indicated that this situation raises fundamental questions regarding compliance with the standard operating procedures governing the Command Centre and the sufficiency of safeguards protecting sensitive information.

Consequently, the ministry announced it anticipates a thorough review encompassing personnel, access controls, supervisory arrangements, and operational procedures at the Command Centre. This review is intended to determine the scope of the breach, pinpoint any failures in conduct or oversight, and ensure that appropriate measures are implemented. The ministry further stated that the outcomes of this review will inform the implementation of more robust security controls, stricter supervision, rigorous enforcement of procedures, and the adoption of best practices to safeguard sensitive information and enhance accountability, which will also inform legislative reform.

Meanwhile, the People’s National Congress Reform/A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/APNU) asserted that the leak reveals deficiencies within the security systems of the Guyana Police Force. The party contended that the government bears responsibility for the systems it establishes, the personnel it employs, and the institutions it manages. APNU called for Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken and Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond to account for the adequacy of the safeguards, procedures, and systems under their respective supervision.

APNU stated that the unauthorized extraction and disclosure of sensitive information from a national security surveillance system raises questions concerning the security of the nation’s surveillance infrastructure, the management of sensitive data, the integrity of personnel, and the systems of supervision and accountability within the GPF.

Regarding the government's response to this serious breach, the party claimed it demonstrates incompetence, poor judgment, and a lack of institutional preparedness that have become defining characteristics of the PPP/C administration. APNU also criticized the government's decision to order a review, characterizing it as an example of impulsive decision-making, knee-jerk reactions, and politically convenient solutions, rather than the considered leadership necessary to address underlying institutional failures.

APNU questioned how a national system of importance could have been put in place without adequate safeguards, adding that any responsible administration operating a national surveillance system must foresee the potential for internal misconduct, unauthorized access, misuse of privileges, and the compromise of sensitive information, and that these foreseeable risks must be managed through proper planning, security protocols, personnel screening, monitoring, and continuous professional training.

Furthermore, the party voiced concerns regarding the leadership of both the government and the GPF, arguing that both the administration and the police were reacting to crises after they occurred instead of exhibiting the foresight, competence, and professionalism required to prevent them. APNU maintained that any investigation must be conducted impartially, professionally, and in accordance with the law, emphasizing that this issue should not be used as a pretext for selective accountability, political persecution, or the arbitrary targeting of individuals. The party also requested a comprehensive technical and operational review, personnel vetting and accountability, stronger safeguards and internal controls, consultation with stakeholders, and independent oversight and transparency.