Ronald Gajraj

Ronald Gajraj (April 1952 – December 2018) was a Guyanese lawyer and politician and who served as the Minister of Home Affairs. He was a member of the People's Progressive Party.

Biography Gajraj was a Lieutenant in the Guyana Defence Force, Lawyer, and later the Minister of Home Affairs, and the High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh.

Gajraj was appointed Minister of Home Affairs by Janet Jagan, in January 1999, and served until May 2005.

In 2002, they were rumours of a death squad operating extra-judicially that was allegedly responsible for the execution of numerous men who were wanted by local police for crimes against the state. In October 2003, George Bacchus, a self proclaimed member of the death squad, accused Gajraj of providing support to the alleged 'death squad'.

Bacchus was found murdered in his home on June 24, 2004, drawing speculation that the execution was carried out by the alleged death squad.

The Commission of Inquiry was chaired by Justice of Appeal Ian Chang, and also included former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Major General (ret'd) Norman McLean and Deputy Commissioner of Police (ret'd) and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Ivan Crandon.

In 2005, he was appointed Guyana's High Commissioner to India, and subsequently Bangladesh in 2015, he was also appointed Guyana's High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He served in both roles until after the 2015 Guyanese general election.

Ronald Gajraj died on 15 December 2018 following a short illness. The People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Gajraj's political party, paid tribute to the late politician noting that "Gajraj would best be remembered for the pivotal role he had played as Home Affairs Minister in the fight against crime at a very challenging time in this nation’s history.".