HOME Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee announced yesterday that this country is currently working assiduously to draft a new Drug Strategy

Master Plan that would be used to guide its current and future anti-narcotics activities.

(seated in front row) Minister Rohee, Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell, Deputy Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud, CANU Head, James Singh, US Ambassador, Brent ,Hardt, and US Programme Coordinator, Heather Brooks with participants of the GPF/DEA Drug Investigators Course which opened yesterday.

Trends
For the duration of the course, 24 persons from the GPF, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and CANU will undergo training to enhance their knowledge and techniques in drug enforcement, and to make them aware of current trends in trafficking.
Rohee said the Government of Guyana considers it a very timely initiative.
“Our deep appreciation is extended to the Government of the United States of America for the efforts that it continues to make to forge close bilateral collaboration with Guyana to combat the scourge of illegal drugs.”
Rohee added that the Government of Guyana fully supports the spirit of international cooperation that has been further strengthened between the two countries through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
He acknowledged that this collaborative effort through the CBSI has seen many steps being taken by the two countries to build the capacity of the principal law enforcement agencies in Guyana, and launch a programme aimed at addressing problems related to youths at risk.
“This is an indication that a holistic view is being taken of the issue of public security in Guyana by our two countries,” Rohee said. He pointed out that the international drug trade is posing a threat to the stability of many countries in the world, and to the welfare of their citizens.
The tentacles of the drug trade are long and far-reaching; and it is an undisputed fact that because of the way the drug trade is organised, no single country could successfully suppress it single-handedly, the minister admitted.

Incumbent
“It is therefore incumbent upon all countries of the world to work together to combat illegal drugs. Guyana has recognised that it is important to work with our neighbours, members of Caricom, and other countries of the hemisphere to facilitate a coordinated approach to suppress the illegal narcotics trade,” he said.
The minister added: “With that in mind, we have signed bilateral agreements to co-operate in the fight against drugs with our three neighbours -- Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname; and in addition, at the Caricom level, we have been actively co-operating at the political and law enforcement levels to ensure that there is synergy in tackling the problem of drugs.  Greater and more effective inter-agency cooperation is vital if Guyana is to succeed in this fight at the national and international levels.”
Rohee said Guyana actively participates in the activities of the Organisation of American States (OAS)/Concise International Chemical Assessment Documents (CICAD), through its various programmes and membership of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), being a party to the UNASUR Plan of Action to address the world drug problem.
He said that further afield, this country has established links with countries of Europe and Africa in efforts at combating illegal drugs; and a critical issue in its strategy to fight the drug trade is the need for capacity building in the local law enforcement agencies.
“If we are to be successful in our quest to reduce drug smuggling and consumption, our law enforcement agencies must have the capacity to conduct good investigations,” Rohee disclosed.  “I am thus pleased to know that this training course, which involves members of the Guyana Police Force and CANU, includes subject areas such as narcotics investigations, legal updates, and case development,” he said.
Minister Rohee observed that all three of those topics are vital to the successful prosecution of persons who are charged with narcotics-related offences; and while the Government of Guyana has been investing significant sums of money to fight drugs, it welcomes this additional specialised training that is being offered to the staff of CANU and the Police Narcotics Branch.

Updated
Minister Rohee said the Government of Guyana is also conscious that, if its law enforcement agencies are to be successful in apprehending drug smugglers, there is also need for its legislative framework to be updated, and constant action is being taken in this regard.
U.S. Ambassador Mr. Brent Hardt, in his remarks, said that CBSI was established in 2010 with the joint pledge to create a strong partnership between the United States and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
“We are bound together in this effort by our common geography, our close economic links, and the close ties and travel among our citizens. That is why we need to work together to achieve greater stability, security, and social justice for all of our citizens,” the diplomat insisted.
Hardt explained that the CBSI is built on three core objectives: To reduce illicit trafficking of counternarcotics and illegal weapons, advance public security and safety, and to promote social justice. He said those aims were developed and agreed jointly by the U.S. and CARICOM members as the key threats that are facing the Caribbean region.
“We recognised that the drug trade destabilises economic progress, threatens public safety, and makes it more likely that vulnerable populations may be lured into recruitment by criminal organisations.
“But CBSI isn’t just about drug interdictions. It is a regional initiative working to forge a range of long-term partnerships to achieve shared security and social objectives in the region.  We want the citizens of Guyana to see the benefits of improved security and social justice in a personal way in their neighbourhoods, in their schools and in the marketplace,” the envoy outlined.
He said that transnational trafficking, including in drugs, is a major threat to governance and security throughout the Caribbean.  The trafficking of drugs, arms people, and counterfeit medicine provides large profits to criminal networks.
These profits distort economies and undermine the rule of law, making it harder for countries to reach their broader social and economic goals.

Distortions
To prevent these distortions, the U.S. is committing funding, through the CBSI and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, to deepen its partnership with the Government of Guyana by providing training, equipment and other resources to help combat these key threats, Hardt said.
He remarked that this training programme marks the beginning of a new U.S. fiscal year, during which it will be working hand-in-hand with Guyana’s security forces, judicial system, correctional institutions and banking industry through an array of CBSI initiatives.
“This programme, conducted by our dedicated colleagues from the Drug Enforcement Administration, will continue DEA’s ongoing joint efforts to combat the illegal drug trade by working with the men and women of the Guyana Police Force and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit to enhance investigation and ensure successful prosecutions.
“It is our hope that this course will lead to further training in other counter-narcotics specialties, such as digital forensics, case development, and court and legal skills. This training is also designed to complement and support the August 20 launch of the U.S-funded Container Control Programme, being implemented by United Nations Office of Drug and Crime.
“Guyana is one of the first countries in the Caribbean to participate in this Container Control Programme, which will enhance the ability of Guyana’s law enforcement authorities to intercept potential terrorist activities, combat the smuggling of narcotics and weapons, prevent the evasion of taxes, and address the smuggling of chemical precursors for narcotics production and illicit drugs.”
He added that the United States Embassy and the DEA are determined to ensure that the Guyanese partners have the necessary tools to do their jobs effectively.
After the course opening, Hardt made a presentation of equipment, valued US$44,560 or Gy$9M, to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law Enforcement, Seelall Persaud, and CANU Head, James Singh, to boost their ability to conduct counternarcotics investigations.
Hardt said: “We recognise that the training being launched today and the equipment provided is only part of a broader and more comprehensive partnership, and we remain committed to working with you to deepen and expand this partnership to the benefit of all of our citizens.
“To ensure a safer and more prosperous environment for our citizens, we need to continue to work with all stakeholders to build your capacity to meet this challenge. May this training course prove to be another important step forward to achieving our mutual CBSI goals,” he hoped.