–ranks urged to be professional,not fall prey to drugs

THE need for transformational change and maintaining professionalism is the main focus of a week-long capacity building narcotics training workshop, which commenced on Monday at the Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue and Camp Street, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

At the opening of the exercise for Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officers, as part of the unit’s annual staff training, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, in calling on the officers to secure more convictions, reminded them of their role in the fight against drug trafficking.
He told the officers that their “record must be improved as it regards convictions and convictions. More or less it is the epitome, the very top. When you get a conviction as a unit, that is but the pride, that is but the big success that you would all want, and so we have to do better in relation to convictions.”

In noting that the inability to secure sentences or convictions is not a reflection of innocence, the minister reminded, however, that the court has a high standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt or “beyond the shadow of a doubt” and as such it requires every piece of evidence in order for that person to be convicted.

He encouraged the ranks to use the workshop as a stepping stone and not be discouraged, as narcotics smuggling must be viewed as injurious to the democracy and economy. He described the act as an “extremely evil thing” adding, that while it has garnered billions of dollars for a small number of people, at the same time it has destroyed the lives of many families.

Minister Ramjattan in imploring of the officers to be professional and not to fall prey to the lucrative lifestyle the smuggling of narcotics may portray, reminded that it is only through ethics and professionalism that they will become distinguished officers.

“Though you may be unit officers, the money that goes with it, you would want to say well why not give it a try, one blink and that is it. I can be successful, no you must not. It is an extraordinarily dangerous undertaking, to the extent that even if you are successful, in that little fling, you are going to destroy the lives of so many people” the Minister stated.

The workshop which concludes on Friday aims to provide the techniques to better equip the officers in addressing the 21st Century crimes; particularly as it relates to narcotics smuggling. It was highlighted that persons are seeking more ingenious ways to smuggle narcotics, therefore officers must be prepared for such tactics.