CANADIAN High Commissioner Pierre Giroux yesterday officially handed over several pieces of equipment to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, for use by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).The donation includes crime scene kits, six Canon cameras, and an Ocean System hardware and software system valued at Cdn$22,000 (Gy $3,043,280). The simple handing-over ceremony was held at the Police Officers Training Centre at Eve Leary in Georgetown.

This generous gesture is part of Canada’s two-year “Strengthening the Guyanese Criminal Justice System” project, which is being implemented by Canadian non-governmental organisation (NGO) the Justice Education Society (JES).

The JES project aims to increase evidence-led investigations with a view to decreasing impunity rates. The JES is currently conducting its second set of training activities with the Guyana Police Force. This training centres on Major Case Management, Forensic Video Analysis, and Crime Scene Management.

High Commissioner Giroux emphasised the importance of having the necessary tools to implement the knowledge gained through training, and highlighted the particular usefulness of the forensic video analysis equipment, which will capitalise on the numerous closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras around Georgetown.

With this equipment, officers of the newly-established Forensic Video Analysis Unit will now be enabled to extract the relevant video footage and enhance images.

High Commissioner Giroux also commended the admirable work of JES, citing personal experience of successful work with JES in El Salvador.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening security in Guyana, Minister Ramjattan thanked the Canadian Government and the JES for their timely support in strengthening Guyana’s criminal justice system.

The Government of Canada, through its Anti-Crime Capacity Building Programme (ACCBP), is providing Cdn $750,000 (Gy $106 million) to JES to implement this project over two years.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministries of Public Security and Legal Affairs, as well as the Office of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Guyana Police Force.