–in fight against crime, violence

THE Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, an addition to the inventory of national institutions, was an idea crafted by the 2006-2011 Jagdeo-led People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration, which today remains the most unparalleled administration in Guyana’s history.

So said Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, yesterday at formal commissioning of the laboratory, situated at the University of Guyana Complex.

He also noted that the $1.049B investment signals a landmark achievement in the country’s effort against crime and violence.

Present at the commissioning were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, other Cabinet members, and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Resident Representative Sophie Makonnen.

BOOSTING LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY
The laboratory is intended to enhance the investigative capacity of the local law enforcement in crime and the prosecution of offenders by providing quality scientific evidence and expert testimony.
The construction and outfitting of this facility fall under the Citizen Security Programme (CSP), which concluded on June 30, and was implemented under the Ministry of Home Affairs through a loan agreement between the Government of Guyana and the IDB.
The objective of the CSP was to enhance citizens’ security by contributing to the reduction of crime and violence. The programme also targets strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and also to build safer communities.

NATIONAL INSTITUTION
“For me, it is an occasion this evening that heralds further evidence of national building, that indeed we can generate a convergence of interest on the local scene regionally, internationally, both bilateral and multilateral, to work in the interest of Guyana in establishing another national institution,” Dr. Luncheon said.
“…make no mistake, the Forensic Science Laboratory is an addition, and an addition whose time has come; but an addition, nonetheless, to the inventory of national institutions…and as we leave here today and we recall participating in this event, I think more than anything else is the creation of another national institution,” he said.
He highlighted that, after many years of encouragement, commitment and preparation, the country collectively would have, today, given birth to its latest of national institutions, whilst noting the context of this national creation.
Dr. Luncheon reminded that it was in the 2006-2011 period that the initiative of the lab was cultivated, whose fruition is now being witnessed.
He pointed out that the Forensic Laboratory was not the extent of the creativity and vision that flowed in the period. “That administration in 2006 to 2011 challenged the Guyanese, challenged those who supported developing countries, in transforming Guyana and transforming principally our economy,” Dr. Luncheon said.
He recalled as well the 1992 to 2006 administration, and noted that whilst today the country can speak about the investment to the magnitude of the Forensic Science Laboratory, in 1992 to 2006, the emphasis was on investment that pandered to restoration. “We had to build back. We had to put back in place. We had so much to do to take us to the point where we are ready to take off,” Dr. Luncheon affirmed.
“In that period 2006 to 2011, debt management, debt sustainability and those aspects that allowed us with the greatest amount of credibility to engage in deficit spending, to allow us to cast our horizon wider, to undertake investments that were not heard of, could not be contemplated in 1992, when we were busy and committed totally to restoration,” Dr. Luncheon said.
The Head of the Presidential Secretariat said therefore that it was no coincidence that in that period the administration was able to attend to the ‘soft investments’ that are so current and obvious today.
He said that this was the most propitious time — and with the work done prior to 2006 — to seize the opportunity offered to bring about investments such as citizens’ security and the Forensic Lab.
“It is really an index of our perseverance and consistence that we sowed the seed…and here today we are welcoming the growth of that seed; the development of the laboratory. And as we sit here, I am hoping that you join me in our anticipation that this national institution, it flowers and bear fruit that would be a testimony to all of the input that has been made by so many in giving rise to the creation of another national institution,” Dr. Luncheon stated.
The lab is also a signal of Government’s focus on a direction of science and technology in recognition that lack of emphasis on these two subjects is indeed a very awkward way to approach development.
“They go hand in hand, and even moreso today, when technological applications fuel development in countries and regions around the world,” Dr. Luncheon said.

NO WHITE ELEPHANT
Minister Rohee promised that the laboratory will not be a “white elephant”. He noted that the Ministry has been taking steps in addressing this, and has been working with the Director in arriving at not only the clientele, but also towards formulating a business plan for the laboratory, in order to ensure that, at every stage of its development, it is active and “taking business”.

SPECIALISATION
The laboratory is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and highly specialised evidence recording systems that would keep track of all evidence submitted for analysis.
The lab will specialise in analysis of toxic substances, narcotic drugs, pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, forged documents and biological fluids.
Additionally, based on a mandate given by President Donald Ramotar and the Cabinet, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with the responsibility of introducing some elements of DNA testing.
Minister Rohee noted that the Ministry is at present engaged with the IDB in order to see how best to introduce this function.
He also paid special recognition to the University of Guyana for providing “neutral grounds” for construction of the laboratory. In return, the university has been allocated a special area in the laboratory to conduct training for its students who are pursuing studies in forensics.
IDB Resident Representative Makonnen noted that this was the first forensic laboratory in the Caribbean that the bank has supported. She noted that the capacity and equipment being installed could potentially be utilised by neighbouring countries, which currently access such services through foreign providers.
She noted that the IDB is proud to be involved in the project, which should ensure an added capacity to investigate and bring cases, thereby adding enforcement to the rule of law, and successively the capacity of the judiciary to prosecute criminals in the country.
She noted that for IDB, citizen security has always been a priority.
This complement of a main building comprisestwo floors totalling 12,000 square feet. The ground floor houses the administrative offices, library and research area, conference room, security monitoring, evidence submission and wash room.

The first floor has accommodation to support the lab’s four departments: Chemistry; toxicology; document; and evidence trace. Each of the four departments has six laboratories and an instrument room. The facility also consists of a single floor service building totalling 26,000 square feet.

(GINA)