Guyana Anti Corruption Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“HE WAS SILENCED FOR TELLING THE TRUTH”: GACN Exposes Retaliatory Dismissal, Political Audit Cover-Up, and Active Surveillance of Whistleblower at Guyana Audit Office

Case No.: GACN-2026-04-27-001

Georgetown, Guyana – April 27, 2026 – The Guyana Anti-Corruption Network (GACN) has received compelling information pointing to serious misconduct within the Guyana Audit Office and the Ministry of Education. GACN is calling for an immediate, independent investigation into the following matters:

Retaliatory Dismissal of Audit Officer
Mr. Dhanraj Persaud, an audit officer at the Guyana Audit Office who conducted the audit at the Ministry of Education, has been dismissed following a high-profile meeting attended by all managers. The stated reason for his dismissal is that he is suspected of leaking information to Mr. Mark Jacobs, GACN’s Communications Director. GACN has been informed that this suspicion is false.

Statement from Mr. Mark Jacobs, GACN Communications Director:
“I want to state categorically and under oath that I do not know Mr. Dhanraj Persaud. I have never met him. I do not know what he even looks like. I have never had any form of communication with him – directly, indirectly, through any third party, or via any electronic or physical means. Any suggestion that he leaked information to me is a complete fabrication. This appears to be a manufactured pretext to silence a public officer who may have uncovered wrongdoing. I fully support a transparent investigation into his dismissal.”

The timing and nature of the dismissal raise grave concerns about retaliation against a public officer who may have been attempting to expose corruption.

Prior Audit Failure and Political Interference
Information received indicates that last year, an audit team led by Ms. Geetanjalie Singh – including Mr. Hemraj Singh and Mr. Intiaz Ali – failed to query improper spending at the Ministry of Education. Specifically, a Permanent Secretary’s father’s light and phone bills were allegedly paid with public funds. Sources state the team deliberately avoided raising queries because the Permanent Secretary is from the PPP/C government. Ms. Singh’s team is further accused of consistently sidelining and hiding queries to make the government look good.

Surveillance of Whistleblower
A source connected to this matter reports that their account is being actively tracked, forcing them to use different networks to communicate. This raises serious concerns about intimidation and obstruction of efforts to bring corruption to light.

Quote from GACN Spokesperson:
“What we are seeing here is a textbook pattern of corruption cover-up. First, an audit team fails to do its job because a powerful political figure is involved. Then, when an honest audit officer – Mr. Persaud – presumably tries to do the right thing, he is smeared with a false leaking allegation and dismissed. To make matters worse, the very person he is accused of leaking to has publicly confirmed he has no knowledge of Persaud whatsoever. This is not accountability. This is a purge. GACN will not stand by while whistleblowers are hunted and public funds are used to pay a Permanent Secretary’s father’s household bills.”

GACN Demands:

1. Immediate reinstatement of Mr. Dhanraj Persaud pending a full, transparent investigation.
2. An independent inquiry into the 2025 audit team led by Ms. Geetanjalie Singh regarding the failure to query the Permanent Secretary’s family expenses.
3. An investigation into the alleged surveillance of the whistleblower.
4. Public disclosure of the minutes from the managers’ meeting where Mr. Persaud’s dismissal was decided.

Whistleblower Request:
The source has explicitly requested: “Please make all of this public.” GACN is honouring that request.

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