GPF strengthens capacity to combat human trafficking & organised crimes

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is strengthening its capacity to combat human trafficking and transnational organised crime through specialised training designed to improve criminal investigations, victim identification, inter-agency cooperation and the protection of vulnerable persons.

The initiative commenced this morning (Tuesday, November 3, 2026) with the opening of a two-day workshop at the GPF Training Centre, Camp Street, Georgetown, in collaboration with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), Dorcas Mending Hearts Ministry and the United States Embassy.

Officers drawn from Regions One, Four, Seven and Eight are participating in the training, which forms part of the 𝐵𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑃𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝐿𝑎𝑤 𝐸𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑂𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 (𝐵-𝑃𝑅𝑂) project, funded by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Guyana Police Force, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭, emphasised that the effectiveness of law enforcement’s response to trafficking depends heavily on the decisions officers make when encountering persons who may be subjected to exploitation.

“Our purpose is to strengthen the decisions we make when someone may be at risk of exploitation,” Kendall stated.

She explained that the training should enable officers to recognise warning signs, make appropriate referrals, conduct careful interviews and contribute to effective investigations.

Kendall reminded participants that trafficking in persons violates human dignity and freedom, and that behind every suspected case is an individual whose safety and well-being must remain central to the investigative process.

She stressed that officers must approach suspected victims with sensitivity, recognising that fear, trauma, threats against family members and distrust of authorities may affect their willingness to cooperate.

“Some individuals may not identify themselves as victims. Hesitation or difficulty recounting events should therefore prompt careful, sensitive engagement rather than an immediate adverse judgment,” she cautioned.

The Senior Superintendent also highlighted the importance of distinguishing trafficking in persons from migrant smuggling, explaining that trafficking involves exploitation and can occur within national borders, while migrant smuggling involves facilitating illegal entry across international borders for financial or material benefit.

She noted that understanding these distinctions is essential to ensuring appropriate investigative and protective responses.
Kendall further underscored the importance of professional integrity, accurate recordkeeping, lawful evidence preservation and effective cooperation between investigators and prosecutors.

She called on participating officers to ensure that the knowledge gained during the workshop translates into tangible improvements in their respective stations, units and policing divisions.

“The value of these sessions should be reflected in daily practice, the guidance supervisors provide, and the quality of our response to suspected cases,” she declared.

Kendall also encouraged officers to strengthen public awareness of trafficking indicators and ensure that persons reporting suspected exploitation are treated fairly and respectfully.

“𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞,” she urged.

Meanwhile, 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐀𝐃𝐅 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚, highlighted the longstanding partnership between PADF and the Guyana Police Force, noting that cooperation between the two organisations has expanded significantly since 2020.

Grant explained that the B-PRO project, implemented in Guyana since 2023, focuses on institutional strengthening, improving standard operating procedures, professional development and modernising law enforcement capabilities across the Caribbean.

He disclosed that PADF has supported the development and updating of standard operating procedures for the GPF’s Office of Professional Responsibility, as well as specialised training for Criminal Investigation Department personnel in forensic photography, bloodstain pattern analysis and shooting incident analysis.

According to Grant, the latest workshop was specifically designed to address the increasing threat of transnational organised crime, with particular emphasis on trafficking in persons.

He said the training seeks to strengthen officers’ ability to identify criminal conduct, conduct diligent investigations and improve inter-agency coordination in supporting victims and prosecuting perpetrators.

Grant explained that the inclusion of officers from Regions One, Four, Seven and Eight is intended to decentralise specialised training and extend investigative capabilities to border regions and remote communities.

He also referenced Guyana’s Tier 1 ranking in the United States Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, noting that while the country has maintained this ranking for ten consecutive years, continued efforts remain necessary to address trafficking-related challenges.

Grant encouraged participating officers to maximise the training opportunities and apply the knowledge gained to improve their professional competence.

He urged them to contribute to “𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞” in the Guyana Police Force while carrying out their responsibility to protect and serve.

Also addressing the opening ceremony was 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲-𝐚𝐭-𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐬, representing Dorcas Mending Hearts Ministry, who described human trafficking as one of the most serious crimes and human rights violations confronting society.
Weekes stressed that trafficking is “not merely a criminal offence; it is an attack on human dignity, personal freedom and the fundamental rights of individuals.”

She explained that trafficking takes several forms, including forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced begging and the exploitation of children in illicit activities.

Weekes also cautioned that traffickers increasingly exploit vulnerable individuals through deceptive promises of employment, education and improved economic opportunities, including through online recruitment platforms.

Highlighting Guyana’s Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, No. 7 of 2023, she underscored the importance of strengthening officers’ knowledge of the legislative framework and their ability to identify victims and investigate trafficking offences.

She disclosed that Dorcas Mending Hearts Ministry has developed a 𝑀𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐺𝑢𝑦𝑎𝑛𝑎 as a practical training resource for law enforcement personnel.

The manual is intended to strengthen the identification of victims, investigation of offences, appropriate referrals and prosecution of perpetrators.

Weekes emphasised that combating trafficking requires a coordinated national response involving law enforcement, government agencies, civil society organisations and international partners.

“The fight against human trafficking is therefore not simply about enforcing the law; it is about protecting human lives, preserving dignity and ensuring that no individual is subjected to exploitation,” she stated.

In his remarks, 𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐈𝐍𝐋 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐲, warned that transnational criminal organisations have evolved into sophisticated enterprises with extensive financial resources, weapons and intelligence capabilities, presenting serious challenges to regional security.

He cautioned that criminal networks are increasingly interconnected, with the same organisations involved in narcotics trafficking, firearms smuggling, illicit financial activities and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

“The same network that moves cocaine also moves guns, launders gold, and exploits vulnerable men, women, and children,” Ogley stated.
He emphasised that trafficking in persons must therefore be viewed within the wider context of organised criminal activity, noting that the identification and protection of victims can also help disrupt the financial operations of criminal networks.

Ogley highlighted the particular challenges confronting officers serving along Guyana’s borders with Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname, as well as those operating in mining communities, remote airstrips, riverine areas and coastal locations.

He stressed that criminal networks frequently connect interior communities with coastal centres and international destinations, requiring equally coordinated law enforcement responses.

“Our response has to be connected too. That’s why this room matters,” he declared.

Ogley also reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to strengthening security cooperation with Guyana, referencing the March 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on Security Cooperation, which includes commitments to improved information sharing, synthetic drug detection and the investigation and prosecution of transnational organised crime.

He explained that the United States Embassy’s INL section is working with several Guyanese security and law enforcement institutions, including the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory and Guyana Defence Force, alongside regional security partners.

Addressing the participating officers, Ogley identified three priorities for the training: identifying and protecting trafficking victims, following financial transactions linked to criminal organisations and strengthening cooperation across national and regional borders.
“Criminals coordinate. We have to coordinate faster,” he urged.

He also reminded officers that professional integrity remains essential to confronting organised criminal networks, which frequently seek to undermine law enforcement through corruption.

“These organizations corrupt. Your professionalism is Guyana’s best defense,” Ogley stated.

Reaffirming Washington’s support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ogley expressed confidence in the continued partnership between the United States and the Guyana Police Force.

“Together, we will make this region a hard target for criminals and a safe home for our people,” he concluded.

The workshop continues on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with participants receiving specialised instruction aimed at strengthening investigative effectiveness, victim protection and coordinated law enforcement responses.

The initiative underscores the Guyana Police Force’s ongoing efforts to enhance professional competence, strengthen institutional partnerships and improve its ability to confront organised criminal activity while safeguarding the rights and dignity of vulnerable persons.