The police force’s capacity to combat cybercrime is expected to be improved by the participation of four police officers in an upcoming workshop in the Dominican Republic, according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon.
Harmon on Thursday announced a number of upcoming forums officials from Guyana are expected to attend following’s Cabinet’s approval.
The cybercrime workshop, which is set to be convened between July 11 and July 16, will be attended by Assistant Superintendent Mahendra Singh, Sergeant Julio Jonas and Corporals Devon Lowe and Komal Pitam. It has been organised by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and will seek to enhance member countries in Central America and the Caribbean to combat cybercrime.
According to Harmon, work is being done by a unit set up to look at cybercrime. It was set up following a workshop that was convened by the Ministry of Public Security.
“There is a lot of technical work being done by the unit but there is still a requirement for some legislation to be put in place…,” Harmon said, while adding that while the legislation is still outstanding, people are being trained “so that once that matter is concluded, that the entire operation can move very smoothly.”
Meanwhile, Harmon also mentioned Guyana’s participation in a meeting of the Committee of Fiscal Affairs in Japan, which commenced on June 29 and will end today. The country was represented by Diana Matthias, Deputy Commissioner (Inland Revenue) of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). It was expected that the meeting would have dealt with combating tax evasion.
Cabinet also granted approval for the country to participate in the regional workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean on the preparation of biannual updates reports on national greenhouse gases and inventories, including information on mitigation actions, needs and support received. The workshop will be held in St Lucia from July 4 to July 6 and is organised by the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Green Climate Fund. Shane Singh, Technical Officer of the Office of Climate Change, will attend the workshop. The country will also participate in a leaders in international health programme in Colombia from July 11 to July 15. Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton is expected to select two persons to attend the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation-organised programme.
And Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) Claudette Rogers is attending the 21st meeting of the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding Port State Control Committee, which began in Bonaire on June 29 and ends today. Guyana is a standing member of the committee, which deals with the eradication of substandard ships, port state and flag state inspections as well as establishment of harmonious maritime relations among member states.
