Apart from an award of US$300,000 ($60m) from the United States to combat narcotics trafficking here, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will begin a capacity-building programme and a FBI team will help with port security.
This was disclosed yesterday by US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot during the signing ceremony for the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Fund at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
She said that this initiative is geared at deepening the partnership between the US and Guyana under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
According to the US Ambassador, the main objectives of this financial assistance include addressing shared security challenges and supporting Guyana’s efforts to develop an inclusive, transparent and more efficient criminal justice system.
Theriot said, “Today I am so honoured to join you to deepen the partnership with your country and the Caribbean as it relates to Narcotics Control and matters of national security”.
She continued “We as the partners in the US Government are lobbying for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement and we are helping to boost human resource capacity by fighting transnational crimes and to promote a more safe and secured criminal justice system”.
“Most importantly our work here is our demonstration of the respect for the rule of law and democracy”.
Theriot complimented the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) for its integral role in interdicting narcotics but made it clear that while “you are clamping down on a certain amount of narcotics, you have to be on the lookout for more that will be coming into Guyana”.
Turning her attention to the fundamentals of strengthening border security locally, the US envoy said that this is integral in the fight against transnational crimes.
“That is why I am happy to announce the appointment of a technical Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team to Guyana to partner with you as you upgrade your automated fingerprint identification system at the main ports of entry here”, she said.
“Port security is really important if you want to tackle transnational crime and we are happy to help in that area with this programme for the FBI”, she added.
The US government will also invest a sum of US$350,000 towards the Better Police Readiness Program to support the implementation of the Guyana Police Force’s strategic management plan, the Ambassador revealed.
“I am pleased to announce that the United States will make a US$350, 000 ($70m) Investment towards the Better Police Programme in Guyana, we will focus on improving the training curriculum, enhancing strategic planning and management, bolstering forensic and crime scene investigation capabilities, and providing crisis communication and hostage negotiation training as well as best practices to engage vulnerable populations”, she remarked.
“Together our partnerships will help pave the way for Guyana’s deeper integration and security cooperation which will help promote a transparent and inclusive criminal justice system and it will further attract international investment as Guyana further diversifies its … economy”.
Meanwhile Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn during his brief remarks said that he is pleased that the Government signed this agreement in respect of the combined efforts between the two countries to interdict narcotics trafficking, drug dealerships and its use.
He remarked that “The United States of America has been a staunch promoter and supporter in the combat against drug trafficking and use too in Guyana because we know that it is being used a lot here”.
“We are fully aware and we are continuously working on stemming the flow, I can particularly say that this year for sure is a success for us in terms of clamping down on narcotics trafficking we want to point out to the media, the global and regional nature of this crime because the neighbouring countries are … suffering a lot”, he said.
The Minister continued “Many countries both in the Caribbean and South American regions are suffering from the negative impacts of narcotics trafficking, the trafficking in firearms which support the trade and violence and as a result of this serves as contributing factor to this same issue [drug trafficking], we must not forget to mention money laundering as well as other transnational organized crimes”.
Benn concluded, “We will continuously urge our international partners including the President of the United States of America to help us in combatting narcotics trafficking, this issue is more than what we can handle and it can negatively impact the development of this country”.
