Guyana introduces ankle monitoring to protect domestic violence victims

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen interventions against domestic violence, the Guyana government is introducing innovative measures, including ankle monitoring systems for individuals who violate restraining orders.

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Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond explained that ankle monitoring bracelets will allow authorities to track offenders’ movements in real time, sending automated alerts if they approach restricted areas or come near a victim. The system is intended to enhance victim safety and enable rapid preventive action.

Minister Walrond said the initiative is part of her broader mandate to ensure that all citizens feel safe. “People want to feel secure and have that standard of living where they’re able to walk down the street with their children and not have to worry,” she noted.

The minister also highlighted the government’s Safe City Initiative, which uses facial recognition, vehicle tracking, and license plate recognition to support investigations, provide faster responses, and prevent crime. Complementing these measures is an alert app that functions like a panic button, allowing people in danger to contact security and receive emergency assistance.

While implementing these strategies, Minister Walrond stressed the importance of building trust between citizens and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to ensure transparency and accountability. “People want to feel that there is a police force that I can trust and that cares and that will respond to me,” she said.

In addition to domestic violence interventions, the Ministry of Home Affairs is prioritizing the juvenile justice system, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration programs that help young people rebuild their lives.

Minister Walrond said that addressing root causes of crime, combined with support systems and technology-driven safe city programs, reflects the government’s commitment to innovative strategies for national safety and security.