Guyana’s ability to fight crime and secure convictions is set for a major boost following a week-long technical assessment of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) by a visiting team of U.S. forensic experts.
From July 14–18, specialists from the U.S.-based Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) worked alongside the GFSL to evaluate its operations as the facility seeks to gain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) accreditation — international certifications that are expected to significantly raise the standard and credibility of forensic evidence produced in Guyana’s courts.
The visit was coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and forms part of a new initiative funded through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
During the visit, the SCG experts met with key institutions across Guyana’s criminal justice system, including the Judiciary, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Criminal Investigations Department of the Guyana Police Force, Police Prosecutors, the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Sexual Assault and Pathology Departments, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, and the Pan American Development Foundation.
The support aims to enhance the GFSL’s capacity to collect, process, and present forensic evidence — from DNA to narcotics and synthetic drug detection — that can withstand legal scrutiny and contribute to more effective prosecutions. The plan also includes strengthening ties with the U.S.-supported Regional Forensic Science Center of Excellence in Saint Lucia and fostering collaboration with other forensic labs in the Dominican Republic and The Bahamas.
The initiative builds on closer security ties between Georgetown and Washington. Earlier this year, on March 27, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and Guyanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pledging deeper cooperation to combat drug trafficking, dismantle transnational crime networks, and bolster regional security.
“The United States stands firm in our support for Guyana to reduce criminality and prosecute transnational criminals who seek to destabilize our countries and communities,” U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot said. “This new INL initiative marks an exciting milestone for both our countries under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and the newly signed U.S.-Guyana Security Cooperation MOU.”
Since its launch in 2010, the CBSI has worked with Guyana and 12 other Caribbean nations to combat narcotics trafficking, organized crime, and other cross-border threats, aiming to make the region safer through enhanced partnerships and capacity building.
