DNA testing at Forensic Lab to be a reality soon

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has revealed that the procurement process to acquire equipment for the Forensic Laboratory has been approved. The Minister disclosed that the equipment costs fell within the vicinity of US$1 million and was provided for by the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) of the Public Security Ministry.
Ramjattan also disclosed that over the next six to seven months, the Laboratory, located at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, would have its security upgraded to safeguard the integrity of the exhibits. Ventilation work would also be completed and staff who would be conducting various forensic tests certified.
“The American experts, through their Ambassador, indicated that we haven’t as yet reached the stage for that quality of DNA testing. And we had to wait until we get all the other things fixed – the infrastructural work, the integrity system and the ventilation system, because these exhibits have to be maintained at a certain temperature and also the design of that original lab wasn’t there yet.”
The Public Security Minister said it was disappointing that DNA testing was not yet achieved. He, however, emphasised that the “accreditation and the certification, will come when we get it 100 per cent fixed.”
The Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) is a Government initiative with the long-term goal of providing quality laboratory service to support forensic and non-forensic investigations. According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the GFSL offers forensic analysis on samples related to criminal investigations in the areas of toxicology, document analysis, trace evidence, and chemical analysis and non-forensic laboratory testing relating to matters not associated with criminal investigations.