By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly news |
Addressing the opening of the Annual Police Officers’ Conference 2026 on Wednesday, President Dr. Irfaan Ali outlined a comprehensive digital transformation for the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The President declared that “partnership with technology” is now the most critical element for national security, signaling a shift toward fully electronic law enforcement and judicial processing.
The proposed reforms aim to eliminate human error, restore order to the roadways, and solve the decades-old problem of “missing” police files.
E-Ticketing and the Demerit System
Building on the success of the pilot electronic ticketing system, President Ali announced that the government is moving to integrate a Demerit Point System into the e-ticketing framework.
- Automated Prosecution: The President has instructed legislative amendments to ensure that the entire traffic enforcement process—from the moment a camera captures a breach to the final court presentation—is handled on a digital platform.
- Specialized Traffic Court: Due to the high volume of transactions generated by e-ticketing, the President proposed the establishment of a specialized court to deal specifically with traffic offenses, preventing delays in prosecution.
- Tiered Suspensions: The new system will automatically track points against a driver’s license, triggering tiered suspensions for repeat offenders or those who fail to pay fines.
“If those who breach the traffic laws believe that there can be delays in the way they’re prosecuted, then we have to address that also,” the President noted. “Our life matters.”
Ending the “Missing File” Era: E-Case Management
In what could be the most significant reform for criminal justice, President Ali proposed the implementation of a national E-File and E-Case Management System this year.
How the System Works:
- Digital Footprint: Every time a file is opened, updated, or moved, the system will log who accessed it, when they entered, and when they exited.
- Accountability: This “digital audit trail” is intended to hold officers accountable and ensure that case files are no longer “misplaced” or “tampered with” during investigations.
- E-Warrants: All legal documents, including writs, warrants, and summonses, will eventually be served and managed via this electronic platform.
A Modern Force for Future Threats
The President emphasized that these technological leaps are not just about convenience but about positioning the GPF to handle “future threats and opportunities.”
- Legislative Overhaul: The relevant Ministers have been tasked with examining the specific legal amendments required to make electronic evidence and digital warrants fully admissible and standard in the Guyanese court system.
- National Security: The integration of these systems is expected to improve the “speed of justice,” a key component in maintaining public trust and national stability.
