GEORGETOWN, Guyana - President Irfaan Ali Tuesday lauded the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for its “historic achievements” this year, including achieving a 61.7 per cent crime clearance rate and reducing serious crimes by 25.2 per cent.
President Irfaan Ali addressing members of the Guyana Police Force at their Christmas breakfast on Tuesday“These numbers matter because they represent people, families who feel safer, communities that are more secure, and a country that is stronger,” Ali said as he delivered the feature address at the GPF’s traditional Christmas breakfast.
Ali said the achievements reflect discipline, accountability, and a deep commitment to public safety, commending also the GPF’s initiative to establish five new real-time command centres and the deployment of 120 new patrol vehicles countrywide.
But he reminded the police that while Christmas is a time of togetherness for most Guyanese, it demands even greater sacrifice from law enforcement officers.
“You give of yourselves every day, sacrificing time with loved ones, enduring harsh conditions, and facing risks most cannot imagine. In doing so, you live the true spirit of Christmas: selflessness, compassion, and commitment to others,” he said, reaffirm his government’s dedication to improving the quality of life and long-term prospects for all police ranks.
“Security is the most critical component of building prosperity and achieving human development. Your work is strategically woven into our digitisation, education, and justice reforms.”
Late last month, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken reported that Guyana had recorded its lowest serious crime figures in a decade.
They said there were 801 reported serious crimes in 2025, which is 269 fewer incidents than the 1,070 recorded in 2024.
The 2025 figures represent the lowest serious crime levels in 10 years and the GPF said it achieved a 61.7 per cent clear-up rate for crimes this year, which Commissioner Hicken highlighted as a reflection of proactive and intelligence-led policing.
The police said they had removed 100 illegal firearms from the streets so far in 2025. But despite the overall positive trend, Blanhum noted that the country’s murder rate remains a concern, noting that domestic murders doubled in 2025 compared to last year, when 13 cases were reported.
