THE meeting hosted by Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee, with Ambassador, Mr. Brent Hardt and a delegation from the United States embassy Thursday, reviewed the progress made between the two countries under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) projects. The opportunity was also taken to address future CBSI undertakings in Guyana.
A statement said presentations were made by CBSI officials from Guyana on law-enforcement information sharing and capacity building; crime prevention with the focus on vulnerable and at-risk youths; and maritime and aerial domain security cooperation.
The US team also made proposals on those very thematic areas and provided clarifications on what were being undertaken.
Updates on some of them indicated that in:
* Firearms Marking, the Guyana Police Force has marked a significant number and the process is continuing;
* Fingerprinting – Guyana has digitalised its stock of fingerprints and will soon receive the relevant software application and machines;
* Forensic laboratory- an assessment visit to Guyana’s facility was conducted by US officials in March 2013, with a view to providing technical assistance:
* Corrections reform – an assessment visit of the prison system in Guyana was conducted by an official contracted by the US Government, as part of efforts of the Ministry of Home Affairs to effect reforms in the Guyana Corrections Service. The visit was aimed at enhancing the knowledge, skills and abilities of the corrections service officials;

Financial Crimes
* Financial Crimes – under the CBSI, training in relation to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism was conducted by the US Treasury Department in Guyana. Further, technical assistance in relation to financial crimes is being provided to the Guyana Government through the CBSI;
* Anti-Narcotics Training – ranks from the GPF Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Drug Enforcement Unit have received anti-narcotics training under the CBSI and more is slated for 2013.
* Maritime and Aerial Domain Security – Guyana is expected to receive three metal shark-defiant patrol boats and other technical aid for the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard by mid-2013;
* Future CBSI Projects for Guyana – a US company will be conducting a detailed assessment of the current technical and other resources, including people available within police forces in the Caribbean Region to support live video connectivity to facilitate training opportunities in all of the partner countries. This was scheduled to commence here yesterday and
* Monitoring and Evaluation – in keeping with Guyana’s agreement with the US., this process, of all CBSI projects, will continue.
Both parties agreed to meet on a quarterly basis to review the implementation of CBSI projects, the statement said.