The Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) is now furnished with surveillance equipment to analyse video evidence, compliments of the Justice Education Society (JES), a Canada-based Non-Governmental
A representative from JES handing over one piece of the forensic video equipment to Head of the Forensic Lab, Delon France on Thursday at the Public Security Ministry as other officials, including subject Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, look on
Organisation (NGO).
The equipment and software were handed over to the Public Security Ministry on Thursday by officials from JES, which is funded by the Canadian Government through its Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programme.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said the equipment is crucial not only in solving serious crimes, but also in traffic matters. He disclosed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is already using the equipment, which has been instrumental in the probe of last Saturday’s grenade attack on Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall.
The Minister pointed out that the use of the equipment would not have been effective without the training which was conducted by JES.
“A lot of people don’t understand that what is required is analysis and competent people to understand how to do the analysis of these video clippings that we find whenever crimes are committed, and how you go through the process of magnifying that and what to look for,” he stated.
Ramjattan noted that such acquired expertise was used in relation to the Kaieteur News probe, hence the arrest of the six suspects and one car being detained.
Furthermore, the Public Security Minister outlined that these pieces of equipment will also prove to be beneficial to the Force as Guyana is working on rolling out its ‘Smart City’ project, which is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission, Daniel Joly, noted that the donation is being made as part of the Canada’s efforts to strengthen the criminal justice system in Guyana.
“The forensic video equipment that we are handing over to you today, Minister, used specialist appropriately trained by the JES programme, will enable officers to hone in and better analyse video footage being gathered all around Georgetown and that will certainly aid in Police investigations,” he stated.
He noted that his Government is committed to promoting freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law by strengthening the professionalism and accountability of law enforcement agencies.
“Our capacity building efforts in Guyana, and elsewhere, are helping criminal justice systems to be responsive, both to the needs and concerns of citizens… already, we are seeing results. Techniques learned on JES training courses have contributed to the successful investigation of several cases; in some instances, in cases that have been opened for years,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Police Commission (Ag), David Ramnarine in brief remarks recognised the impact the JES project has had thus far on the Force’s ability to carry out its duties.
“The contributions of the Justice Education Society – a wonderful, pleasant, approachable, dedicated group of individuals with their Guyanese counterparts – would have impacted significantly on our ability to investigate serious crimes, there is no doubt about it,” he stated.
Ramnarine stressed too that recent successes in solving crimes is also credited to the current batch of dedicated and academically qualified ranks in the Force’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) who takes pride in their work.
In accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Forensic Lab, JES will be monitoring the proper use of the equipment and will provide a report to the financiers as required.
This inventory will be done every six months and at the closure of the project.
The goal of the JES project is to develop the technical capacity of local Police, Police Prosecutors, State Prosecutors and Magistrates to collect, analyse and present forensic evidence as a means of decreasing impunity rates.
