Thirty-five Guyanese officers are now better equipped to combat transnational crime following two five-day courses hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The training concluded yesterday with a graduation ceremony at the Police Training Centre in Eve Leary.
The 35 officers were privy to a course in interview and interrogation along with a basic criminal investigator course and were taught by five instructors.
During the training, which began on June 16, the officers learnt a multitude of skills including active listening, interrogation strategies, the taking of statements, and body language analysis.
During his address, United States Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt noted that the training signaled a common commitment towards fighting transnational criminal activity. “It is a recognition that our countries are bound together by our common geography, our close economic links, and the close ties and travel among our citizens,” Hardt said.
He continued, “To achieve the stability, security, and social justice that we desire for all of our citizens, we need to work together.
That is the only way we can be effective.”
The FBI training courses offered during the past week are a continuation of training efforts that begun this year.
Earlier this year, Guyanese officers travelled to the Police Academy in Trinidad and Tobago to attend courses taught by both the FBI and Trinidadian instructors who had been trained by the institution.
The training sessions are part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) which was launched by US President Barack Obama in 2009. The CBSI seeks “to reduce illicit trafficking of narcotics and illegal weapons, advance public security and safety, and promote social justice,” the ambassador said.
