THE acquisition of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) by the Guyana Police Force is a major boost to its investigative capacity and yesterday United States Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt officially handed over the computer system which the police have been using for some time now. The handing over of the equipment is part of the wider initiative of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which is one pillar of a U.S. security strategy focused on citizen safety throughout the hemisphere.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony at the Criminal Investigations Department at Eve Leary yesterday, Ambassador Hardt told the gathering of senior police officers, including Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud and Crime Chief Leslie James, it is proven that in the fight against criminals, working together in partnership has always yielded better results.
The US ambassador said that the computer system will help the police in their crime fighting to provide immediate results and he recalled that over the years a lot has been done to input the records into a new database system.

EVIDENCE OF GUILT

Hardt said that with the fingerprinting machine no records will disappear or be degraded and the system will assist in providing evidence of the guilt of criminals, and this would add to public trust in the police and their investigative capabilities.
He recalled that since the CID had been in possession of the state-of-the-art equipment, several cases have been reopened by investigators and new evidence tendered.
Hardt added that in the fight against crime, law enforcement efforts must be imbedded in strong economic, democratic and social frameworks.
Meanwhile, in his address Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, pointed out that this development in law enforcement impacts persons, their relatives and others associated with them.

CBSI ASSISTANCE APPRECIATED
He said that the Guyana Government values every single effort and assistance offered by the United States Government in the context of the CBSI. He emphasised also that Guyana appreciates such donations.
Rohee said that if the Guyana Police Force, or any other force around the world, wishes to counter the challenges emerging in crime fighting, then they must ensure that it builds on its human resources.
He added that if the human resources and capacity building are not intact, then the equipment offered for the advancement of crime fighting could not serve its purpose.