Jagdeo dismisses Brutus’ diversity policy lawsuit as a “desperate” PR stunt

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has strongly rejected the claims made by Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, calling his lawsuit against the Government regarding the “Diversity Policy” a desperate attempt to grab media attention and distract from the serious allegations of misconduct leveled against him.
Brutus, in a $1.6 billion lawsuit, accused the Government of racial discrimination within the Guyana Police Force (GPF), alleging that Afro-Guyanese officers, including himself, were sidelined in favor of Indo-Guyanese personnel to meet a Government-imposed diversity quota.
Brutus further claimed that his removal from the position of acting Deputy Police Commissioner for Administration was orchestrated by Dr Jagdeo to make way for Assistant Commissioner Ravindradat Budhram, an Indo-Guyanese officer.

No such directive
However, Dr Jagdeo vehemently denied these accusations, asserting that no such directive was given and that Brutus’ removal was more likely linked to the numerous allegations of financial misconduct that surfaced during his tenure.

There has been no such directive. I never met with the Commissioner of Police and I never asked him to replace Brutus as head of administration… There is no truth to Brutus’ claims of racial discrimination,” Dr Jagdeo emphasised during a recent press briefing. “This lawsuit is merely a public relations stunt designed to deflect from the real issues—his mismanagement and the corruption within the police force. We have been very clear about our commitment to diversity, but this has nothing to do with the unfulfilled contracts and financial irregularities that occurred under Brutus’ watch.”
Dr Jagdeo listed several troubling financial discrepancies, including a GY$14.8 million payment for supplies—such as 3,150 metal buttons, 560 lanyards, and 943 male peaked caps—that were never delivered. He pointed out that these failures directly affected the well-being of police officers, who were deprived of necessary uniforms and equipment due to Brutus’ negligence.
“It’s not the PPP that was harmed by these financial failures; it was the police officers, who come from all walks of life,” Dr Jagdeo continued. “Brutus, however, continues to deflect by playing the race card. His failure to deliver on his responsibilities has harmed the very officers he claims to represent.”

The lawsuit and Brutus’ claims of racial discrimination have also sparked political tensions, with opposition parties accusing the PPP of unfairly targeting Afro-Guyanese officers. Dr Jagdeo responded to these allegations by turning the focus back on Brutus’ alleged corruption, dismissing the opposition’s narrative as a political tactic.
“While the opposition uses these claims to push their own racial agenda, they are turning a blind eye to the real issue: corruption in the police force,” Dr Jagdeo said. “We stand firm in our commitment to fairness and justice. Anyone, regardless of race, who engages in misconduct and fails in their duties will be held accountable.”
Brutus is currently on administrative leave while facing over 200 charges related to alleged corruption. As his legal battle with the Government unfolds, Dr Jagdeo made it clear that the PPP’s stance on corruption remains unwavering—no one, regardless of their race or position, will be exempt from accountability.
“We will continue to manage this country with integrity,” Dr Jagdeo concluded. “If you fail in your duties, you will face the consequences, regardless of who you are or who you think you are close to.”
Brutus was initially granted bail of $6.2 million in October for 31 charges related to alleged financial crimes. That sum was increased to $10.05 million in November after 201 additional charges were filed, bringing the total number of accusations against him to 231.
As the case engages the court, Brutus remains on bail.