Guyana now benefits from free DNA

Every time the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is required to do a DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) test, the Government has to fork out more than USD 3000 for the test, plus accommodation and travel expenses for the rank that will be carrying it to either Barbados, Brazil or Trinidad and Tobago.

But now, after 24 years, the Force will access it free of cost, according to Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. The Minister said that the Brazilian government, through a request he made for mutual legal assistance, has agreed to help in conducting free testing. Initially, samples were taken to Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados but the cost was astronomical. “We had huge problems with Trinidad. We sent twice but couldn’t get it done,” Ramjattan said while adding that he subsequently approached the Brazilian Government for assistance. He said that the neighboring country understood Guyana’s difficulties and offered to do the tests free. Babita Sarjou’s samples were the first to be done in Brazil for free. However, having free DNA testing does not mean that the government will not continue to ensure the multimillion dollar forensic lab at Turkeyen, which was constructed under the previous administration, is fully operational.

The Minister said that training is required for staffers to ensure that these specimens are kept in a sanitized condition. The lab is expected to be functional by 2018. In a previous interview, the Minister noted that, “DNA is the highest grade of investigation at the forensic level and the chemicals, the procedures in a DNA lab are of a very high quality; you do not want interfaces with the samples and the integrity of the items.” (Kaieteurnews.com)