By Mark DaCosta- The death of sixteen-year-old Altaf King on the evening of Thursday, June 25th, 2026, along the Princeton Access Road in Corriverton, Berbice, has plunged Guyana into fresh turmoil over police conduct and government accountability. The teenager, an only child from Little Africa who had recently sat his CSEC examinations at Skeldon Line Path Secondary School, perished at approximately 6:45 p.m. during an encounter with officers attached to the Springlands Police Station. What precisely transpired remains bitterly contested, and the gulf between the official narrative and eyewitness accounts has fuelled public outrage, with opposition parties uniting in demands for a full, independent, and transparent investigation.

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) issued a forceful statement expressing profound shock at the loss of so young a life. The coalition extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and the wider Corriverton community, whilst voicing deep disturbance at allegations that King was being pursued by police officers when the fatal collision occurred. The party was equally alarmed by claims that the teenager was left bleeding at the scene without prompt assistance. In its statement, the PNCR/APNU declared:

“The PNCR/APNU strongly condemns any conduct by law enforcement officers that places the lives and safety of citizens, particularly our young people, at unnecessary risk. The Guyana Police Force has a duty to protect life, and every operation must be conducted with professionalism, restraint, and full regard for human life.”