-used in identifying car in KN grenade incident

By Rabindra Rooplall

The Government of Canada on Thursday gifted the Guyana Police Force a forensic video analysis equipment and software packages under the Justice Education Society project.The simple handing over ceremony was done in the boardroom of the Ministry of Public Security on Brickdam. Present were Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Permanent Secretary, Daneilla Mc Calmon, acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine, Canadian Counsellor and Head Development Cooperation Officer, Daniel Joly, Global Affairs Canada representative, Batoul Hussain, Justice Education Society (JES) Project Manager, Evelyn Neaman and representatives from the Guyana Forensic Laboratory.

Minister Ramjattan said the equipment will give the police force a boost as the same equipment and training were put to use in identifying the vehicle on a surveillance camera system when a grenade was tossed near the vehicle of Kaieteur News publisher Glenn Lall outside the newspaper’s office and printery.

The video analysis training from the JES had helped in the investigations that led to a number of persons being taken into custody for questioning, the security Minister said.

VIDEO ANALYSIS
“A lot of people sometimes don’t realise what is required is analysis and competent people to understand how to do the analysis of these video clipping we find when crimes are committed and how you go through the process of magnifying that, what to look for, like matching details on a vehicle.”

He said from the first video provided by Kaieteur News it was found that the rear number plate appeared not to be present, but with magnification it was discovered that it was there but covered in mud. He pointed out that the training of police officers by the Canadians enhanced the ability of the Police Force in many areas. This has paid off in the reduction of crime by 16 per cent.

Noting that government plans to place more closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras around the city, he said the project execution unit of the Citizen Security Programme (CSP) is going to be making assessments based on what is known. He said service providers from certain companies from Canada, USA, China and UK among others will have to satisfy the IDB requirements in relation to procurement.

SMART CITY PROJECT
“As we speak, the Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum is in Mexico City, because there is a project by a Chinese company that has invited a number of Latin American and Caribbean countries to give an example of what they can provide in a Smart City Project,” Minister Ramjattan noted. He said officials have already been selected and a final plan will have to be executed.

When these cameras that will aid in the upgrade of security are procured, the Security Minister said “these will be durable products being procured, not that when they are placed up after six months it (CCTV cameras) breaks up and fall apart, we will need to ensure that they can withstand the harsh climate,” he explained.

Acting Commissioner Ramnarine said the Justice Education System (JES) has a dedicated group of individuals who have imparted a tremendous amount of knowledge to boost police officers and their operations in the field.

“This has enhanced our ability to better investigate serious crimes. Coupled with this is that the current personnel in the CID are dedicated, academically qualified, enthusiastic and it seems to be very clear by now that there is pride in their work, this has caused more care and attention being given to the work done,” the Assistant Commissioner explained. “Coupled with the substantial amount of training that was received and will continue to be received, would lead us in a direction where all Guyana can be proud of the Police Force.”

Canadian Counsellor and Head Development Cooperation Officer, Joly said the programme is being implemented by JES, which is a Canadian-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) funded by the Government of Canada through the anti-crime capacity-building programme.

He said Canada is celebrating 50 years of bilateral relations with Guyana and the project is part of Canada’s commitment to promote freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law by strengthening the professionalism and accountability of law enforcement agencies.

The capacity building efforts in Guyana are helping the Criminal Justice System to be more responsive to both the needs and concerns of citizens, Joly said, while the Minister of Public Security and head of the Police Force are seeing the benefits of the training courses and investigations in solving cold cases.

“We are very pleased with the level of cooperation received both from the Ministry of Public Security, Legal Affairs, as well as the offices of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the Director of Public Prosecutions and especially from the Guyana Police Force,” the Canadian official remarked.

MONITORING HOT SPOTS
He said he is certain that the equipment handed over will be put to good use since it is very timely, with the intended purchase of CCTV’s that will monitor the hot spots in Georgetown.

Emphasizing that the cameras will gather massive amounts of information, Joly said the forensic video equipment being handed over will be used by specialists, who were appropriately trained by the JES programme for better analysis of video footage in aiding police investigations.