The long-awaited modern forensic laboratory slated to be completed early next year signals a strong response to the complex nature of criminal activity today, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said at yesterday’s inking of the $449 million contract.
Courtney Benn Construction Limited should commence works on facility, which will be located in the compound of the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus, this month end. The facility should be completed within 12 months.
The forensic deficiency of the police force was seriously highlighted 18 years ago, just a year into the PPP/C’s first term after the high-profile murder of Monica Reece. Her killer has never been found. More recently, the police have been severely criticised for their inability to undertake tests in crucial cases, including DNA testing in the Lindo Creek murders and fibre examination in the killing of bank employee Sheema Mangar.
Speaking at a simple signing ceremony, Minister Rohee said, “I believe when governments move in this direction… it must be in response to the complex nature of criminal activity that had emerged in the society and therefore posing multifaceted challenges to law enforcement.”
He said that like in the case with many other developing countries, Guyana has to respond to the complex nature of crime with old tested methods and modern methods. The new approach, according to Minister Rohee, includes sophisticated scientific methods since the criminals of today use modern methods to perpetrate their acts.
In this regard, he noted, law enforcement, has to respond appropriately. “We are thus moving towards the next generation in forensic capabilities and capacities in Guyana,” Rohee stressed.
He expressed the opinion that the construction of the forensic laboratory will contribute to confidence building between those who operate in the lab and the community. He said that people must have confidence in whatever is done at the laboratory. In this vein, he said emphasis needs to be placed on confidence building and integrity, which are two very important elements. He explained that it was because of these elements that the decision was made to locate the facility at the campus and he added that UG will contribute significantly to the integrity of the results, especially with the involvement of civilian staff.
Credibility too, he added, is also a very important element arising out of the scientific objectivity and quality control of the methods used at the laboratory.
The lab, when completed, will also enhance institutional capacity within the Guyana Police Force, UG and all the other stakeholders who will be playing a role in its the effective functioning.
He noted that the Ministry has also embarked on a “gap analysis” to determine where testing is being done in Guyana whether private or public, so that “we can have an assessment of where the gaps exist in so far as laboratory testing is concerned, forensics or otherwise so that as a country we can know where our deficiencies are and so help to improve those deficiencies.”
The construction of the facility also brings with it human resources, since UG graduates who have an interest in forensics would be among those who will be employed.
Rohee said that new legislation to boost law enforcement has been passed. He said that shortly the construction of the National Intelligence Agency will be completed and will contribute significantly to law enforcement.
The placement of CCTV cameras around the city to capture intended or actual criminal activities, the scanner purchased by GRA, and the introduction of IT at all police stations are also part of the country’s changing security architecture.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Henry Greene expressed delight at being associated with yesterday’s signing ceremony for an “upgraded and modern facility.” He described the new facility as “a dream come through for any police force. Any police force will be happy to be associated with such a project because we realise how beneficial it would be to us.”
According to Greene, the fight against crime cannot only be tackled with help from the public alone but also needs support from forensic science. “A forensic lab therefore is critical to the work of the Guyana Police Force,” he said before pointing out that the force inherited some elements of a Forensic Lab in 1987 but they were unable to achieve significant progress and “we still have to depend largely on overseas for assistance for DNA.”
He said that some progress has been made in areas related to blood, hair and fibres and the force has managed to recruit trained staff that has been able to upgrade its capacity in terms of blood processing, blood splatters, footprints, and fingerprints processing, among other areas.
However, he pointed out, the force recognises that there is a need for the new forensic lab with upgraded facilities and a level of staff who will be competent enough “to lead us forward in the fight against crime.”
Greene said that often magistrates, lawyers and judges are more comfortable when the processing of crime scenes and evidence is done by people who are not members of the Guyana Police Force.
Responding to a question, he said that all cases will be dealt with whether hot or cold, once the evidence is there.
The idea of building the facility came into being in 2007, when the contract for the establishment of the Citizens Security Programme (CSP) was signed between the government and the IDB.
