DNA testing equipment to arrive soon, Ramjattan says

—tests possible by year end

The Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory will be equipped to conduct DNA testing by the end of the year, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has said.

The forensic lab, as highlighted in a Department of Public Information (DPI) release, is intended to provide quality laboratory service to support forensic and non-forensic investigations, including toxicology, document analysis and chemical analysis. However, DNA testing is yet to be a feature offered by the multi-million dollar lab.

The DPI report said that according to Ramjattan, there were a few hiccups with getting the DNA testing equipment, worth $107 billion (US $513,000), shipped to Guyana from the Italian firm contracted to supply it. However, these issues have since been resolved and the equipment is expected to arrive soon.

“The current government, in its quest to improve the forensic ability of the Guyana Police Force and law enforcement, has since taken all necessary steps to bring the lab up to international standards with the capacity to perform DNA testing. This came at the additional cost of almost $70M to an already billion-dollar laboratory built in 2014 under the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration,” the release noted.

DPI stated that Clement Henry, Project Manager of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme, under which DNA testing falls, related that everything necessary to facilitate DNA testing locally has either been completed or is near complete. These include the installation of security systems and air quality and electrical works, which are required to meet international standards.

Henry reportedly related that a representative of the Italian firm took a tour of the laboratory last week. The firm will also reportedly be conducting additional training of lab technicians and installing the equipment, which will come with a five-year warranty.