Guyana Police officers undergo FBI training

The U.S Embassy on Friday announced that thirteen Guyanese law enforcement officials are attending a series of training courses in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago at the Police Academy of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

The training began on May 13 and will end on June 28 in Port of Spain. According to the embassy, participants of the courses being offered will be able to develop their skills relating to criminal gang and organized crime investigations; intelligence gathering for law enforcement; and crime scene investigation.

This is the first time that Guyana has sent students to the Trinidad-based Academy. The embassy statement added that instructors from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) are conducting the training course.

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, D. Brent Hardt toured the TTPS Police Academy and met with the first group of Guyanese law enforcement officials participating in the training as part of a recent visit to Trinidad and Tobago. The embassy said the Ambassador expressed appreciation to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Academy leadership for facilitating Guyana’s participation in the training.

The Ambassador pointed out that the expansion of regional training programs and regional centers of excellence is a primary goal of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) — the ongoing security partnership between the Caribbean and the United States. According to the embassy, “such training allows for more capacity building training to be delivered at lower cost. More importantly, it helps build personal connections among Caribbean law enforcement agencies that are essential to combating transnational criminal activity”.

The Ambassador told participants that “criminals operate across borders, and law enforcement agencies must be equally nimble if they are to remain effective in combating criminal activity.”

CBSI partners agreed on importance of expanding regional training and developing regional centers of excellence. This FBI provided training reflects the U.S. commitment to carry out the CBSI and develop region’s capacity to enhance training in broad range of areas for law enforcement officials throughout the region.

The embassy believes the partnership exemplifies the regional cooperation that is at the heart of the CBSI’s success and sustainability. The CBSI partnership with the Caribbean was launched by U.S. President Barack Obama at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in April 2009 and is a cornerstone of an integrated, multilateral hemispheric security strategy that seeks to enhance citizen security, promote social justice, and combat illicit trafficking.

U.S Vice President Joe Biden will visit Trinidad and Tobago next week to meet with CARICOM leaders on a wide range of issues including security matters.