Investigators from the Guyana Police Force, and Prosecutors attached to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions are currently undergoing extensive training under the Partnership of the Caribbean and European Union (PACE) on Justice Project.
The training is taking place against the backdrop of a 2020 UNDP Judicial Needs Assessment, which revealed that efficient access to justice is being undermined across the region by delays within key stages of the criminal justice process, resulting in a backlog of cases. The training is therefore intended to enhance the institutional capacities of police investigators and prosecutors.
In his address during the opening ceremony of the training programme at the Police Officer’s Mess today, UNDP Programme and Operations Specialist, Dhiraj Singh said in keeping with its global mandate, UNDP Guyana is pleased to continue its support for Guyana’s Criminal Justice Sector through the EU-funded Partnership of the Caribbean and European Union on Justice (PACE Justice) Project.
He said the project aims to reduce backlog and enhance access to justice. Police officers and prosecutors, Singh said, are critical to the timely execution of cases.
“Given that collaboration between the Office of the DPP and the Guyana Police Force affects the quality of criminal prosecutions, including their outcomes, UNDP Guyana considers this training timely. During this training, state prosecutors, police prosecutors, and police officers will cover the following and other topics – inter-agency protocols and national file standards, early consultation and strategic planning and operational workflows and evidence management,” Singh disclosed.
The training programme builds on support already provided.
Under the PACE Justice Project, Guyana, through the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Judiciary and the Office of the DPP, is benefiting from G$186 million in initiatives all aimed at strengthening the systems, processes and personnel in the criminal justice system.
“To date, these agencies have benefited from specialized hardware and software at a cost of US$575,000 or approximately G$119 million to advance digitalization efforts for access to justice and enhance critical service delivery and capacity building interventions on restorative justice, criminal and children in conflict with the law, case management training for judicial officers, and forensic and criminal investigation training for police officers. These efforts collectively with today’s training on Criminal Trial and Appeals, aim to further enhance justice sector agents to better execute their responsibilities in delivering access to justice,” Singh said.
Crime Chief and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Wendell Blanhum said the training programme is aligned with the five pillars of the Guyana Police Force’s Management Plan.
He explained that while the Guyana Police Force has been employing the use of technology in its daily operations, particularly in the areas of intelligence gathering, investigation and prosecution, a multifaceted approach is necessary for successful prosecution.
He said the police and the DPP have been working closely on cases, and the training will help to streamline the approach, as he thanked the UNDP and the EU for their continued support through the PACE Justice Project.
“From its inception PACE has offered both classroom and on the job training to our investigators, particularly, our crime scene technicians. This has significantly strengthened the force’s investigative capacity and provided invaluable support,” the Crime Chief said.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack, who was among the officials present, also lauded the initiative.
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