Guyana and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) representatives yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will cover a programme to prevent smuggling of drugs and contraband via containers.
The Container Control Programme was developed by the UNODC to assist states in protecting their import and export ports through the implementation of systems to prevent the smuggling of drugs and contraband in containers. Guyana is the first country in the Caribbean to sign on to the programme and will be followed by Suriname on Wednesday, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
GINA reported that the MOU caters for the establishment of a port control unit in Guyana which will assist in combating the threat posed by traffickers using the maritime chain to further their illegal activities. Officers from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Guyana Police Force, Customs and Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) will receive training to make operational the unit which will be stationed at the John Fernandes wharf and which is expected to start functioning on October 15. The UNODC is offering the first training course for members from Guyana and Suriname.
GRA, Guyana Police Force, CANU, John Fernandes Limited and the United States of America Embassy are signatories to the MoU, GINA said.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee noted that the signing of the MOU is a significant venture since it ushers in unique dimensions in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and firearms. It is hoped that through this programme there will be a gradual elimination of this menace to ports worldwide. Rohee, GINA reported, explained that the genesis of the document stems from correspondence between GRA’s Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur and Interim Director – Implementation Agency for Crime and Security Impact, Francis Forbes, who advised Sattaur about a proposal to conduct a maritime port assessment with the hope of paving the way for Guyana to join the container control programme.
He noted that in a meeting, some years ago, with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Julissa Reynosa in Washington, USA, the possibility of having Caribbean countries cooperating in the fight against the narcotics trade was raised following which another meeting was held when Reynosa visited Guyana some time after.
GINA reported that Rohee said that Guyana has always seen it fit, to as much as possible work with the international community in the fight against illicit drugs. This partnership includes strategic alliances among customs, police and other relevant bodies with the aim of preventing criminal organisations from abusing legitimate commercial trade. Rohee stated that Guyana sees itself in partnership not only with the UNODC but with the World Customs Organisation and the CARICOM Implemen-tation Agency for Crime and Security.
GINA reported that US Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt acknowledged that the trafficking of illicit drugs to sea ports represents a significant threat to the economy and the security of citizens this is why the US has been promoting multi – agency efforts to combat narcotics trade and other related trafficking activities. He explained that the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement is focused on reducing the impact of illicit trafficking of drugs and other international crimes through global partnerships, GINA said.
Ambassador Hardt stated that the signing of the container control MoU is a great step towards reducing illicit trafficking of drugs and other items while at the same time enhancing the capacity of Guyana’s law enforcement to effectively tackle the illicit trade at dry and water ports, GINA reported.
It said that Regional Manager, CCP – Troels Vester, in his remarks highlighted Guyana for being the fastest country to develop the MoU. He noted that the first mission to Guyana occurred in the middle of May.
The Governments of Jamai-ca, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago have already expressed interest in having the programme implemented in their respective countries, according to GINA. It said that the concept of the global container control programme “aims at setting up sustainable development structures at sea and dry ports so as to minimise the importation of maritime containers containing illicit drugs and, other organised international crime activities.”
“At the forefront of this initiative is the creation of inter-agency port patrol units comprising analysts, inspection teams from different law enforcement agencies, including the police force and CANU, and representatives from the GRA who are trained and equipped to work together to systematically target high risk containers and other proactive techniques with minimum disruption to the free flow of the respective ports,” GINA reported.
Coordinator, Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband – Floyd McDonald said that the process towards the establishment of the programme included an assessment of the major ports by the UNODC and negotiations on the development of a MoU between the Government of Guyana and the UN agency, GINA said.
McDonald noted that on the part of Guyana, the highlight of this project will be the collaboration between the GRA, CANU, the Police Force and owners of the various wharfs, in particular the John Fernandes Limited Wharf.
