NINETEEN ranks drawn from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were presented last Friday with certificates on their successful completion of the five-day Jetway training programme facilitated by the Canadian High Commission.

The closing ceremony was held at Grand Coastal Hotel, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast of Demerara.

The training programme uses a commonsense policing approach to detect travelling criminals, and has contributed to the seizure of billions of dollars worth of contraband worldwide.

This course is essentially an investigative technique that can be employed by any law enforcement agency. However, it is often tailored based on the peculiarities of individual countries. The course for Guyana focused on interdicting the transportation of contraband and illicit drugs at airports.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, in brief remarks at the closing ceremony, said that the Jetway training programme was aimed at enhancing the capacity of law enforcement ranks. He noted that the course was based on a “commonsense approach”, incorporating both theory and practice to enable ranks in recognising suspicious behaviour and movements of persons involved in criminal activities.

Minister Rohee stated that the approach is quite useful for Guyana and will enhance the capacity of law enforcement officers by exposing them to best practices which can be applied because organised crime exists worldwide.

He noted that criminal enterprises are seeking to integrate themselves in society by employing persons with skills to boost their operations and here in Guyana it is necessary to be a step ahead of those involved.

The Home Affairs Minister also expressed thanks to the government of Canada and the other stakeholders who have been partnering to fight organised crime.

The minister added that cooperation between countries is vital to guarantee public safety and security and he thanked the foreign facilitators of the course which will boost the capabilities of both the GPF and CANU.

The course started on March 17 and concluded on March 21 with 19 students, including one female, receiving training in the classroom and at the airport by two instructors.

Jetway is designed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to assist plainclothes law enforcement operatives in the detection of travelling criminals at airports, bus terminals and train stations.
Canadian High Commissioner, Dr. Nicole Giles, in remarks said that the activities of organised crime, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and contraband smuggling, pose a threat to all countries in the Caribbean and its reach extends into North America.

She added, as Minister Rohee noted, that organised crime poses a direct threat to friends and neighbours across the hemisphere, including tourists, businesses and investors.

Dr. Giles noted that criminals reach multiple countries and jurisdictions as they seek financial gain, targeting international businesses and this issue requires an international response, which must be based on collaboration and integration of a national strategy.

The diplomat said that the Canadian Jetway training programme is an example of the country’s steadfast commitment to working internationally and collaboratively with partners such as Guyana to combat international crime.

She noted that the Jetway training programme was launched in 1994 by the RCMP and contributed to the seizing of billions of dollars of contraband worldwide.

Dr. Giles said further that the beauty of Jetway is that the techniques can be applied to crimes being committed not only at airports but across the spectrum, including traffic and routine investigations, and as a result it strengthens not only border security but security at large.

She added that Jetway also helps to detect when a person is lying and the training is geared to disrupt well thought out criminal activities.

(By Michel Outridge)