Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and US Ambassador Perry Halloway yesterday
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the operation of a vetted counter-
narcotic investigative unit programme.The signing took place at the minister’s Office at Brickdam.

Minister Ramjattan signed on behalf of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) and the
Ambassador on behalf of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

The mission of the Vetted Unit Programme of the Drug Enforcement Administration of the US
is to train, equip and provide necessary assistance to partner countries so that
specialised units in those countries can meet certain mutually-determined standards and
can increase capacity in integrity, professionalism, and competence in fighting drug crime.

This programme is intended to ensure better investigations and interdictions, and to
prosecute and dismantle high-value targets in narco-trafficking networks.

Members of Guyana’s Law Enforcement sector who will participate in this Vetted Unit
Programme will have to pass certain background checks, plus tests as to medical and
psychological fitness for duty, polygraph testing and random drug testing.

The DEA will be responsible for all expenses for training, whether this be local or
international.

The MoU is to remain in force for a period of five years.

The Minister of Public Security also took the opportunity to request assistance from the
USA concerning a high-powered portable container scanner to surveil the contents of
containers at various wharves in Georgetown.

U.S. Deputy Head of Mission Bryan Hunt informed that the request is actively being looked
into and their experts in US are presently engaged in identifying costs and maintenance
arrangement for such a crime fighting asset.

What was also good news for the Public Security Minister was the procuring by the US

Government of equipment for virtual Police training by trainers in the US through
tele-conferencing. The equipment will be stationed at the Police Academy.

This has now come to fruition because of provision of higher speed Internet services
provided by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (G T & T) to the Academy.

According to a release, there will now be more extensive and intensive training of
officers and ranks in Guyana without the expenses of having to bring to Guyana US
trainers, or having to send to the US the Guyanese trainees.

In attendance at the signing ceremony was Head of Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) James Singh.

Minister Ramjattan thanked both the Ambassador and the Deputy Head of Mission for the US’s support.