Dear Editor,
On February 18, 2026, a request was hand delivered to the office of the Commissioner of Information, Justice Charles R. Ramson, SC., at 34 East Street, for access to official documents (pursuant to s 16) pertaining to the criminal investigation of rape allegations against then Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall. The documents requested (in hard or electronic copy) included:
Any and all documents which contain information relative to the criminal investigation of rape allegations against Minister Nigel Dharamlall.
Any and all documents which contain information and/or insight as to why the Director of Public Prosecutions changed her decision to Prosecute Minister Nigel Dharamlall in light of the rape allegations against him.
Any and all documents which contain information relevant to the victim’s recantation of her allegations of rape against Minister Nigel Dharamlall.
Any and all documents which contain information on investigations undertaken for other possible charges arising from the rape allegations against Minister Nigel Dharamlall.
In submitting this request, we are guided by the following sections of the Access to Information Act 2011:
S 7(a) (i) – Powers of the Commissioner of Information which specify that the “Commissioner of Information has the power to require a public authority to take any steps as may be necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of this Act including (i) by providing access to information, if so requested in a particular form.”
● Section 12(1) and (2) – Right to Access to Information which says, “Notwithstanding any law to the contrary and subject to the provisions of this information act, it shall be the right of every citizen or person domiciled in Guyana to obtain access to an official document.” (2) “The Minister may, by order, extend the right to be given to official documents under subsection (1) to include persons not referred to in that subsection and may set such conditions as the Minister deems appropriate.”
● Section 16 (1), and (2) on Procedure to Make a Request the Act which states, “A person who wished to obtain access to an official document shall make request in the form (a) and (b).
All of the guidelines have been followed in the submission. It is to be noted that in the 2026 budget, the sum of $40 million was granted to the Office of the Commissioner of Information to enable the dutiful and prompt execution of the Commissioner’s duties. We remind the public that the Commissioner is a servant of and therefore accountable to the taxpayers of Guyana who fund this Office.
I emphasize that this matter be addressed with urgency, given the seriousness with which matters of sexual and gender based violence must be treated in Guyana, (a seriousness emphasised by the Government of Guyana), and especially given recent newspaper reports of Nigel Dharamlall’s return to official Government of Guyana duties. Action must match rhetoric.
We asked for a signature certifying receipt of the attached submission, but this request was refused and the deliverer was instructed to put it in the mailbox.