A significant step has been taken in strengthening bilateral cooperation between Guyana and India in the areas of forensic science, law enforcement, and criminal justice.
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday hosted a high-level delegation from the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, India.
The delegation, led by Prof. (Dr.) Naveen Kumar Chaudhary and Prof. (Dr.) Satish Kumar, is in Guyana for an official visit from June 22 to 27. They were joined by Manoj Kumar of the Indian High Commission in Guyana.
The visit follows a series of diplomatic and technical exchanges, including a Memorandum of Understanding signed on Jan. 17 between the Governments of Guyana and India, and Guyana’s participation in the All-India Forensic Science Summit in New Delhi on April 14–15.
The collaboration was initiated during bilateral discussions between President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the latter’s state visit to Guyana, where both leaders expressed a commitment to advancing innovation, security, and science-based institutional development.
At the opening meeting, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally welcomed the delegation. Benn extended condolences to the Indian Government and families affected by a recent plane crash and reaffirmed Guyana’s solidarity with India. He described the visit as part of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to modernise its investigative capabilities and build a stronger forensic infrastructure.
Also in attendance were senior security and law enforcement officials, including acting Chief of Defence Staff and NISA Director Colonel Sheldon Howell, acting Director of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) Charis Griffith, Director of the GPF Academy Senior Superintendent Sonia Herbert, Officer-in-Charge of the Crime Lab Deputy Superintendent Ray Mercurius, and several senior scientific officers from the GFSL.
The delegation’s itinerary includes visits to the Guyana Police Force, GFSL, Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), and the University of Guyana. An official reception by the Indian High Commission and meetings with law enforcement agencies are also scheduled.
Key areas of focus include best practices in forensic science, training, quality assurance, technical support, capacity-building, and research collaboration.
The NFSU delegation expressed gratitude for the hospitality and voiced optimism about future initiatives, including academic exchanges, joint training, and applied research in forensic science.
