Hughes lacks maturity to be near government – Nandlall blasts AFC Leader over Linden shooting remarks

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall launched a blistering attack on Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Nigel Hughes Tuesday night, calling him “reckless” and “irresponsible” in his response to the recent police-involved fatal shooting in Linden.

Nandlall, speaking during his ‘Issues in the News’ commentary, rejected Hughes’ criticism of the government’s handling of the incident, accusing him of undermining due process and attempting to inflame public sentiment.

“Nigel Hughes cannot be anywhere close to a government,” Nandlall stated, adding “He doesn’t have the sense of maturity, he doesn’t have the presence of mind.”

The Linden incident, which saw two men fatally shot by Police, sparked public outrage and prompted Hughes to question the credibility and impartiality of the ensuing investigations.

However, Nandlall dismissed Hughes’ remarks as “inflammatory” and “dangerously misguided.”

The Attorney General stressed that the Government of Guyana has acted responsibly in response to the tragedy.

“The President met with the families and assured the public that an independent, professional investigation would be conducted,” Nandlall noted.

He added that the Regional Security System (RSS) and the Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility have both been engaged to ensure transparency and accountability.

The findings, he said, have already been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions — an independent constitutional body.

Despite being an attorney himself, Hughes continues to ignore the basic principles of due process, Nandlall argued.

“He is making reckless, irresponsible, and inflammatory statements — not for the first time,” he said, adding that Hughes’ rhetoric was sowing mistrust in state institutions.

“Mr Hughes is telling people to disregard the Guyana Police Force, to disregard the RSS — a regional law enforcement body. Who does he want to investigate these matters, then? Foreign experts flown in by himself?” Nandlall questioned.

He also referenced the 2012 Linden shooting and the international forensic experts involved at the time. “The same behaviour we saw then, we are seeing again. That expert ended up confirming the Guyana Police Force’s findings and walked out of the Commission of Inquiry embarrassed,” he recalled.

Addressing calls for compensation, Nandlall stated that while the government is not ruling it out, any such move must follow a proper investigation.