THE OPENING of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Guyana is long overdue, say members of the Private Sector. The DEA office is slated for opening Wednesday.

“What I can say is that it is a long overdue exercise,” Norman McLean, chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) said Monday. McLean said he was invited to the opening and he plans to attend.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Honorary Secretary of the PSC, Ramesh Dookhoo. He told the Guyana Chronicle that he was pleased that the obstacles which prevented the setting up of the DEA had been cleared and the office can now open.
He said it is an achievement that all businesses in Guyana need to celebrate. “I think it is long overdue…it is admirable that we now have a DEA office albeit after a long time.”
“Legitimate businesses in Guyana should celebrate and welcome the opening of the DEA office here,” he added.
Dookhoo is hopeful that with collaboration with the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) much progress would be made to tackle the narco-trade.

Like Dookhoo, Captain Gerry Gouveia told Guyana Chronicle that the country’s security agencies would “be greatly helped by the presence of the DEA”.
“It is long overdue and I think having the office here is great both from the Private Sector stand point and personally,” he remarked.
Additionally, President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Clinton Williams highlighted the fact that Guyana has been known, locally, regionally and internationally as a transit point for the narco-trade.
“The recent discovery of drugs in all forms coming from Guyana has created this image; so with the establishment of the DEA office here it is hoped that this image created would be somewhat minimized if not mitigated.”
He said too that the opening of a DEA office here is welcomed.

Similarly, former head of the Presidential Secretariat under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Dr. Roger Luncheon told Guyana Chronicle that the establishment of the DEA office here while long overdue will “cement the support of the international community for the efforts being made domestically by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and law enforcement agencies involved in fighting against narco-trafficking”.
He described the opening of the DEA office as “a long overdue gesture sought by the law enforcement authorities in Guyana.”
The DEA office was set up here to assist the authorities in fighting the drug trade.
In 2014, former US Ambassador Brent Hardt said the DEA would be bringing equipment and personnel to Guyana to ensure the office is adequately furnished.
The APNU-AFC coalition government has said that with the establishment of the DEA office here would enhance the fight against the narco-trade. (Ariana Gordon)