A US$1.688M ($346M) contract was signed on Friday by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Trinidad- based Western Scientific Company for the supply of equipment for the state-of-the-art Police Forensic Laboratory, a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
This project falls under the Citizen Security Pro-gramme (CSP) that was initiated between Government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This programme has three components; institutional modernisation of the Home Affairs Ministry, Community Action Component (CAC) and modernisation of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) which includes the strengthening of forensic capability.
The lab, the installation of closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) around the city, the Integrated Crime Infor-mation System that links police stations to information and the establishment of the National Intelligence Agency, form components of the overall strategy to enhance the police force’s capability and curb criminal activities, GINA said.
The signing ceremony at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Brickdam was witnessed by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, the contracting company’s officials, Police Commissioner (Ag) Leroy Brumell and senior police officers, GINA said.
Rohee said the agreement was an indication of government’s willingness and commitment to equip the Guyana Police Force with the necessary tools to fight crime and catch those who prey on others.
Edghill urged Western Scientific to ensure that the equipment supplied is as specified and within the budgeted contract, noting, “This is a flagship project for government and the best is expected of it”.
Edghill is quoted as saying, “Thieves should think twice about crimes they want to commit because the Police Force will soon be equipped with the tools to follow and find them wherever the trail leads.”
President of Western Scientific Company Edwin Mackoon said that when equipped, it will be the best forensic lab in the Caribbean and one that could withstand scrutiny from any other facility in the world. All of the equipment is due to be installed and tested by May 2013. Courtney Benn Construction was awarded the contract to construct the forensic laboratory, on the University of Guyana campus.
