ATTORNEY-GENERAL (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, met with representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and US State Department to render mutual assistance in criminal matters.

On Monday, at the AG’s Chambers, Carmichael Street, Georgetown, discussions were held with James Markley, FBI’s Legal Attache`, Derek Kreitensteid, FBI’s Assistant Legal Attache`, and Mayan L. Shih of the US State Department

According to a release from the Attorney General’s Chambers, Mr. Markley is the lead officer of the FBI for the Caribbean region, including 27 countries stretching from Bermuda to Guyana, and is based in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Further, Mr. Kreitensteid is the Assistant Legal Attache` and is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mr. Shih is the Regional Security Officer representing the US State Department in the Caribbean.

The group raised several areas in which they have been cooperating with the Government of Guyana over the years, such as, rendering mutual assistance in criminal matters, extradition, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, trafficking of narcotics and firearms, tracing proceeds of organised crime and forfeiture of assets, trafficking in persons and cyber-related criminal activities.

“The team wishes to intensify its relationship with the Government of Guyana in the investigation, prosecution, and in securing convictions in these types of offence,” the Attorney-General Chambers noted.

The Attorney-General signalled the government’s continued commitment to upholding the rule of law in all its facets, including the pursuit of all forms of criminality, particularly organised crimes.

Further, the Legal Affairs Minister discussed the various policies and training programmes being pursued by the various law enforcement agencies intending to augment the State’s capabilities to investigate, prosecute and convict for criminal conduct, as well as the government’s robust legislative agenda.

In particular, the Attorney-General emphasised that cyberspace was the new emerging platform for committing serious criminal offences in Guyana and globally.

He pointed to many persons who use social media platforms, in particular in the United States of America, to spew racial hostilities and create ethnic strife among segments of the Guyana population, inciting and aiding and abetting riotous conduct and even domestic terrorism in Guyana.

He informed the team that the State of Guyana has already lodged formal complaints with various important offices and agencies in the United States on this matter, including the FBI, and he used the opportunity to reiterate those reports requesting actions from US authorities against the perpetrators who operate with impunity from the United States.