US, GPF discuss enhancing integrated automated & fingerprint identification system

In a move towards strengthening national security, Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken, along with members of his Executive Leadership Team (ELT), met with officials from the US Embassy on Tuesday.
The meeting, held in the Commissioner’s Conference Room at Eve Leary, Georgetown focused on advancing the security measures of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
The discussion was facilitated by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Affairs and the Regional Security Office (RSO) of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
The primary agenda was the enhancement of the GPF’s Integrated Automated and Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive biometric record exchange program between the FBI and the GPF.
This collaboration will grant the GPF access to the FBI’s extensive database of criminal and counter-terrorism investigation records. The enhanced biometric system will encompass fingerprint scans, palmprints, facial recognition, and iris scans, significantly bolstering the GPF’s crime-fighting capabilities.
This meeting follows a recent agreement signed over a week ago between the GPF and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). They established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create training partnerships aimed at enhancing crime-fighting capabilities and responding to complex situations.
At the signing ceremony in Georgetown, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn emphasised the need for police transformation to tackle crime and improve community engagement. The agreement was signed by U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot, First Deputy Commissioner of NYPD Tania Kinsella, Deputy Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, and Minister Benn.
Kinsella noted that the training would be customised for Guyana’s law enforcement needs and expressed excitement about sharing NYPD’s experiences and best practices. The delegation, which met with President Dr Irfaan Ali and other officials, will also engage with civil society stakeholders. The training curriculum will cover best practices in areas such as homicide investigation, responding to gender-based violence, and community policing.
Ambassador Theriot stated that the partnership aims to foster a more inclusive criminal justice system and attract international investment as Guyana’s economy grows.
The NYPD will begin the training program in a few months, and Guyanese officers will later participate in a practical study tour at the NYPD’s training facility.