Guyana’s National Computer Incident Response Team (NCIRT) continues to boost its capacity in order to shore up the nation’s ability to confront cyber-crimes as the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Forensic Science Laboratory pursues international accreditation in order to undertake DNA testing.

The announcement was made on Wednesday last by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who lamented the hue and cry by critics, over the current inability of the Forensic Laboratory to do DNA testing.

According to Rohee, the Ministry is currently ensuring that the relevant mechanisms are in place to facilitate ISO Certification and international accreditation.
“These are all pre-conditions to having a facility that conducts DNA testing,” Rohee.explained.
He was at the time addressing the rank and file of the Guyana Police Force as well as members of the diplomatic community at its Officer Training Facility on the sector’s performance over the past year as well as its projections for the coming year.
“Work is being done to finalise the Quality Control, Safety and Analytic Testing Systems in accordance with International Organisation for Standardisation/International Electro technical Commission 17025 in order to obtain international accreditation,” Rohee said..
The Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory was commissioned in July last within the confines of the University of Guyana, and according to Rohee: “It is expected that the testing of evidence will begin early 2015.”
The Home Affairs Minister also used the opportunity to report that the Laboratory has completed its Strategic Plan for the period 2014 to 2018.
“It has been focused on training of staff in the areas of evidence management, trafficking of illicit firearms and ammunition, data analysis, laboratory safety and practices, detection of counterfeit currency and credit cards and the use of scientific items.”
According to Rohee, the Ministry has recognised the importance of DNA testing to aid the crime solving capabilities of the Guyana Police Force.
He cautioned however that it must be borne in mind that DNA testing at the laboratory was not possible under US$19.8M loan provided under the first Citizen Security Programme.
He said too that it will not be possible under the upcoming $US15M Programme, given the significant cost that is attached to the undertaking.
Cyber Security
Meanwhile, Rohee also used the opportunity to report on the Ministry’s fight in relation to cyber-crime, a phenomenon which has been gripping the attention of governments across the world in recent times.
According to Rohee, whose responsibility includes the security sector: “In recognition of the importance of the internet and computer security to the welfare of citizens, national security and economic well-being of the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs implemented a National Computer Incident Response Team (NCIRT).”
That Unit, according to Rohee, is tasked with improving the cyber security preparedness and response of the Government of Guyana through proactive security measures and information sharing mechanisms.
“The CIRT commenced its operation and is tasked with ‘improving the cyber security preparedness and response of the Government of Guyana through proactive security measures and information sharing mechanisms.”
He reported also that the Unit began in 2014 year by responding to a major security incident where 10 Guyanese websites, including Government websites, were defaced.
He reported too that in 2014 a one-year Strategic Plan for the Unit together with a 2014 Programme of Work was developed. A similar approach is to be adopted for 2015.
He said too that the Unit was also provided with local and overseas training in the development of capabilities in cyber security incident handling.
Rohee disclosed that this year the Incident Handling Unit of NCIRT will develop detailed situational analysis of Government Agencies’ and the Business Community’s experiences with cyber incidents and cybercrime by conducting a Government Cyber Security Survey and a Cyber Crimes Against Business Survey.
“The outputs from these surveys will inform GNCIRT’s strategic interventions and allow it to offer proactive services such as targeted alerts, advisories and warnings to constituents.”

(By Gary Eleazar)