Customs, Police undergo more anti – organized crime training

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Nineteen ranks, inclusive of a lone female from the Guyana Police Force and the Customs Anti – Narcotic Unit will complete a five day training on Friday, March 21 under the Canada Jetway Training Programme.

The Programme was launched in 1994 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and has contributed to seizure of billions of dollars’ worth of contraband.

Jetway uses a common sense policing approach to detect travelling criminals. It is recognized as a best practice internationally and has proven to be an effective tool in law enforcement efforts to disrupt organized crime as well as enhance public safety.

According to Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr. Nicole Giles, who addressed the outgoing participants along with senior ranking security personnel at a ceremony on Thursday, March 20, the activities of organized crime, including drug trafficking, money laundering and contraband smuggling are a threat to all countries in the region and further afield.

Dr. Giles added that criminal routes traverse multiple countries and jurisdictions as criminals seek out the path of least resistance and greatest financial gain.

“Crime is an international business and therefore requires and international response; a response that must be based on collaboration and integration of national strategies and efforts,” Giles added.

She said among other things, the Jetway Training Programme strengthens the ability of Guyana law enforcement to detect ‘tells’ that betray persons with criminal intentions, such as when a person is lying.

“I am confident that with vigilance and due diligence these officers have the ability to disrupt well-trodden criminal routes and to make their friends and family comfortable.”

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said he was very impressed, particularly with the common sense approach of the training programme.

He said he hopes that the goal set out by the Jetway team was accomplished adding that this is only the beginning of law enforcement in this particular field.

“Training never ends it is always a work in progress… we know that organized crime poses a threat regardless of the nature of the society and we must not fail to address it, not because we are not comparable to other parts of the world,” the Home Affairs Minister stated.

Rohee said Guyana will not remain indolent to any crime, whether organized or disorganized.

“We always have to be a step ahead of criminal, whoever has the greater capacity will automatically be the winner, and we intend to be on the winning side.”

The ranks were trained by Sheldon Harper from the Trinidad and Tobago Airport Authorities, Alain Dallaire from Port of Spain and Pierre Villeneuve from Canada.

Canada says the cooperation on Jetway is further proof of the results that can be delivered when countries work together for a common cause.