US Govt gives US$300,000 to fight narcotics trafficking, crime in Guyana

…FBI, DEA to lend support in border strengthening, capacity building

Guyana has received US$300,000 in Government International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement funds from the United States of America – a sum which will be directed at fighting crime and narcotics trafficking among other critical areas.
The US Embassy and the Home Affairs Ministry partook in a signing ceremony on Monday at the Foreign Affairs Ministry to formalise the bilateral assistance.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn outlined that the US has been a staunch partner in relation to the fight against narcotics. He pointed out that in the Region, narcotics also hinge on other transnational organised crimes such as money laundering, human trafficking and firearm trafficking.

“We are aware, and we have been working at stemming the flow with particular success. This year, for sure in relation to narcotics trafficking, we want to point out the regional and global nature of this fight because the neighbouring countries both in the Caribbean Region and South America are suffering from the negative effects of narcotics trafficking,” said the Minister.
Benn added that such criminal activities pose a negative effect on the development of Guyana, and on the question of regional crime and security.
Under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs has been partnering with policymakers to deliver holistic, capacity-building programmes to disrupt organised crime and promote citizen security.

Shared commitment
US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, underscored, “Our work together is rooted in our shared commitment to the rule of law, democracy and human rights. This bilateral assistance is complemented by more than US$2.5 million in CBSI regional programming designed to promote regionalisation because we all know that regional programmes require regional solutions.”
Recognising that crime and illicit narcotics trafficking threaten Guyana’s stability and economy, she announced that they would soon commence a capacity-building programme with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bolster Guyana’s narcotics-fighting capacity and address the large amount of cocaine transiting the country. This will also assist the Guyana Police Force (GPF) with providing critical casualty and trauma care for officers in rural environments.
The US will also lend support via the deployment of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team to handle cases of sophisticated criminals leveraging Guyana’s borders for illicit activities.
“Strengthening border security is essential in the fight against transnational crime. That’s why I am pleased to announce the deployment of a technical FBI team to Guyana to partner with you as you upgrade your Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) at major ports throughout the country.”
Additionally, the US Government is set to make a US$350,000 investment under the Better Police Readiness Programme to support law enforcement in implementing its strategic management plan, specifically as it relates to updating the Police Academy curriculum, enhancing management, bolstering forensic capabilities and training on crisis communication. (G12)