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Contractor requests extension for Forensic Lab
..Rohee says Force will return to Parliament for more money
The Forensic Lab being constructed by the Guyana Police Force has hit a snag with the contractor requesting an extension for its completion.
This was confirmed by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, who yesterday told media operatives that the laboratory which was supposed to have been completed by yesterday, will now require another week of works.
Rohee was at the time addressing a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) press engagement. He said that the equipment for the state-of-the-art laboratory is in Guyana, “and is safely stored pending the removal of the contractor’s labourers from the site.”
According to Rohee, the personnel to staff the laboratory have already been identified.
He said that a panel had been set up and it has selected “what I consider to be highly qualified people. In fact, I was surprised to see Guyana still has so many of these people in the country
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee (Centre) addressing the media in company of the party’s Executive Secretary, Zulficar Mustapha (right) and the party’s press officer Romel Roopnarine
to work in forensic laboratories.”
It’s now only a question of finishing up with all the physical works, according to Rohee.
Addressing concerns regarding the adverse effects the refusal of the legislative amendments by the combined opposition would have on his ability as Minister with responsibility for the security sector, Rohee said it wouldn’t.
He qualified his position reminding of a point raised by Head of State, Donald Ramotar, who had indicated that the way the Constitution is written, the Executive still has enormous possibilities to get things done.
Rohee told media operatives that with the allocations for the Ministry of Home Affairs secured in the 2013 Budget the works required being undertaken will be done.
“Work is proceeding at the administrative level, at the executive level, at the policy level to get the reforms moving.”
He said that the problems arise at the level of Parliament.
The Bills brought to the House for passage would help to reinforce what is being done at the executive, policy and administrative levels.
He said that in the reform of the Guyana Police Force, the refusal to have the legislation amendment for the name change to that of a Police Service, is a blow to the reform process but “is not a blow to the heart of the reforms.”
The Minister reminded that Patrick Mentore, still remains head of the Strategic Management Department that is implementing the reforms.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs is still utilizing the resources to bring a greater sense of training to ranks of the Police Force.”
Rohee said that the Capita Symonds Consultants will shortly be arriving in Guyana “to continue with their programmes of reforms as well.”
With respect to the increased training being undertaken by the Guyana Police Force, Rohee said that the force did not receive the amount of money it would have requested.
He said although the Ministry would have received a significant amount of what it had requested, this money is projected to be fully utilized by the third quarter of this year.
As such, Rohee said that the Ministry will have to approach the National Assembly for a supplementary provision to continue with its level of training desired.
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