Police Force apologises to MP David Patterson after blocked from leaving Guyana

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Wednesday issued an apology to Opposition Parliamentarian David Patterson after he was blocked from leaving Guyana through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The Force, in a statement, said Mr. Patterson was mistakenly left on an Immigration Department watchlist that barred him from flying. He was initially placed on that watchlist following allegations that he indecently exposed himself in July 2023.

See below the full statement from the Guyana Police Force:

The Guyana Police Force would like to apologise to Member of Parliament Mr David Patterson, whose name inadvertently remained on an Immigration Department’s watchlist.

Mr Patterson’s name was placed on the watchlist in July 2023 during an ongoing investigation by the Police into an accusation of indecent exposure.

The Guyana Police Force has internal SOPs to deal with such issues, and a full probe is underway by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) as to why Mr Patterson’s name was not removed earlier from the list. Mr Patterson’s name has since been removed from the watchlist.