Guyana gets more U.S. assistance to fight crime

GUYANA is getting more financial assistance from the United States (U.S.), through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
Last Thursday, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and U.S. Ambassador, Brent Hardt, affixed their signatures to a Letter of Agreement which forms part of an amendment to an earlier pact between the two countries.
The documentation represents a US$850,000 investment by the U.S. Government which will address the issues of narcotics control and law enforcement.
Speaking at the signing at her Georgetown Ministry, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett noted that with the aid given by the U.S. to countries in the Caribbean Region, it is clear that the donor understands help is needed by the recipients in the fight against crime.
She added there is no doubt that the countries of the region also understand that there can be no success if any of them believes or tries to run away with the idea that the fight against narcotics and the challenges of crime can be fought and won as a one man show.
There must be collaboration, she maintained, lauding the U.S. Government for recognising the need to cooperate.
New faces
According to the Minister, with the new faces of criminal activities and emerging methods being employed by those bent on being part of the other side of the law, the necessity for collaboration must at all times be taken seriously.
She emphasised that there is and will always be that group who will seek to outdo and outsmart the law enforcers in an aim to have their unlawful activities flourish.
Rodrigues-Birkett reminded that, while the CBSI has a bilateral component, it is a regional initiative between the U.S. and Caribbean Governments.
She tendered her appreciation to the U.S. on behalf of Guyana and pointed to the many areas of assistance and successful ventures from which this country benefited since the signing of the CBSI Initiative several years ago.
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said, based on checks, the CBSI initiative is not only proving to be successful in Guyana but several other counties within the Caribbean.
In his remarks, Ambassador Hardt said the arrangement is another building block in the cooperation between Guyana and his country.
He said that the agreement will see an even broader and meaningful support for the rule of law programmes that would, eventually, boost enforcement effectiveness and increase Police capacity in fighting crime.
The diplomat spoke specifically to the agreement which he says will see the support of several existing and new programmatic activities, including the bringing into full operation the recently constructed forensic laboratory while helping to establish fully vetted counter narcotic units and fully developed case partnership programmes with the U.S.

(By Leroy Smith)