[www.inewsguyana.com] – The United States Embassy, under the auspices of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, provided the Guyana Police Force with supplies and equipment to assist in their efforts to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking in the country.
Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud accepted hats, gloves, boots, and specially designed clothing used in marijuana eradication exercises from representatives of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The donation also included much needed computer equipment. The value of the donation is US$15,000. This equipment supplements training provided earlier this year by the DEA to port security officials, which focused on airport security and drug interdiction.
Ambassador Brent Hardt announced last week at a press conference following his farewell meeting with President Ramotar that the United States Congress approved funding for a DEA office in Guyana.
The office will be located at the U.S. Embassy and the DEA will work closely with local law enforcement officials to enhance the safety of Guyanese citizens and stem the flow of narcotics in the region.
The partnership between the United States and Guyana in the security sector takes place under the auspices of the broader and more comprehensive regional security partnership known as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which was announced by President Obama at the 2009 Summit of the Americas and jointly launched with Caribbean countries in Washington in 2010.
The CBSI includes a wide array of programs addressing maritime/aerial security cooperation, law enforcement capacity building, counter-narcotics efforts, border/port security, firearms interdiction, crime prevention, and at-risk youth.
