According to Freedom in the World 1999-2000, "the police is prone to corruption, particularly so given the penetration by the hemispheric drug trade. The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has charged the police with ocassionally using excessive force, sometimes causing death" (n.d.). In 1996, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) working in close cooperation with the local police reportedly broke an international drug shipment ring when they arrested seven people including "a local police officer and a customs officer" (IPS 26 June 1996).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Freedom in the World 1999-2000. "Guyana." http://www.freedomhouse.org/survey/2000/reports/country/guyana.html [Accessed: 18 May 2001]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 26 June 1996. Bert Wilkinson. "Guyana-Narcotics: Another Step Forward in Drug War?" (NEXIS)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2000. 2001. United States Department of State. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/wha/index.cfm?docid=779 [Accessed: 18 May 2001]

_____. 2000. 2001. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Guyana Human Rights Association. Guyana: Human Rights Report 1989. 1989. Georgetown: Guyana Human Rights Association.

United States Department of state. March 1997. "International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. "Guyana." http://www.usis.usemb.se/drugs/Cari/guyana.htm [Accessed: 18 May 2001]

Two oral sources consulted did not provide information on the requested subject.