By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News|
Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan has submitted a motion in the National Assembly calling for the establishment of an independent Office of the Surveillance Commissioner to oversee State surveillance systems and biometric technologies in Guyana.
The motion raises concerns over the expansion of the Government’s Safe Country initiative, including the use of facial recognition systems, biometric monitoring, and AI-enabled surveillance technologies across the country.
According to the motion, more than G$6 billion has been allocated in recent national budgets toward surveillance infrastructure.
Duncan argues that while technology can support public security and crime prevention, there must also be clear safeguards to protect citizens’ constitutional rights, including privacy, freedom of expression, and protection from arbitrary intrusion.
The motion also references concerns previously raised by the European Union Election Observation Mission and the Commonwealth Observer Group regarding the handling, protection, and use of citizens’ personal data.
The proposed motion is calling for stronger oversight of government surveillance systems and the creation of an independent mechanism to monitor their use.
If approved, the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner would be empowered to audit facial recognition systems, investigate complaints of unlawful surveillance, conduct compliance reviews, and issue public reports on State surveillance activities.
The motion was seconded by Opposition Member of Parliament Juretha Fernandes and dated May 9, 2026.
The proposal places renewed attention on the balance between public security and civil liberties, as Guyana continues to expand the use of technology in policing, national security, and public monitoring systems.
