By Khadidja Ba
Foreign Minister Hugh Todd yesterday told the Sunday Stabroek that the Commissioner of Police has said that the seizure by cops on Wednesday of a laptop from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not been authorized.
As questions grow over the police seizure of the laptop and other electronic devices from the Ministry in a probe instigated by former Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall, MP and shadow minister of foreign affairs Amanza Walton-Desir has urged President Irfaan Ali and National Security Advisor Gerald Gouveia to convene the relevant forums to investigate potential breaches in national intelligence and security protocols.
This call follows the controversial incident involving the arrest of Foreign Service Officer Sharmayne Balram by the police on Wednesday and the confiscation of the Ministry’s property.
The arrest occurred in connection with an ongoing cybercrime investigation involving Balram, who serves as the Executive Assistant to Todd. Walton-Desir yesterday expressed grave concerns over the actions of the police, describing them as “dangerous and irresponsible” and breaching established protocols and operational procedures. She emphasized that the incident might have compromised sensitive information, especially given the ongoing international investigations involving high-level officials.
“Beyond the immediate concerns for confidentiality and security access levels, there are at least two major international investigations publicly involving certain senior officials,” Walton-Desir told the Sunday Stabroek.
“The access the police had to the device belonging to the Minister’s Executive Assistant could mean sensitive information may have been compromised. This breakdown in governance, especially within the police force, is distressing for Guyanese and must now concern the international community, particularly the ABCEU countries”, she said.
In response to the incident, Todd yesterday told the Sunday Stabroek that he was not present at the Ministry on Wednesday when the confiscation occurred. Upon learning of the action, Todd said that he contacted the Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, who confirmed that the seizure of the laptop was not authorized. Consequently, the device was returned. Todd stated that to his knowledge, no security breaches occurred during the period the device was in police custody.
The situation has also sparked legal action. Balram’s lawyer, Everton Singh-Lammy, has issued a warning to Dharamlall, who had previously lodged accusations against Balram. Singh-Lammy’s letter demanded that Dharamlall cease his allegations and issue an apology, arguing that the accusations and subsequent police action were unwarranted and damaging to Balram’s reputation.
“Ms. Balram had reported unusual activity on her social media and professional accounts prior to Dharamlall’s allegations,” Singh-Lammy wrote. “It is reckless for Dharamlall to disseminate these claims publicly, as it harms my client and interferes with the law’s administration. We expect a formal apology following the police investigation.”
Balram herself has publicly condemned Dharamlall’s actions. In a statement on social media, she defended her professional integrity, citing her extensive career in diplomacy and the unwarranted nature of the accusations. Balram expressed her outrage over the police seizure of her devices and the treatment she received.
She said on Thursday in a statement on Facebook: “I am profoundly disturbed, disgusted, and outraged by the baseless accusations being leveled against me by disgraced former Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall.
“These fabricated claims are a direct assault on my character, my career, and my professional integrity.
“The fact that Nigel Dharamlall could have used his political clout to send the police into my office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to seize all my devices and then personally escorted me like a common criminal to the Criminal Investigation Department, and made me sign a ledger confirming I was arrested, is extremely concerning to me and my family”.
