Latest update March 24th, 2025 7:05 AM
Cold cases will be revisited once warranted – Ramjattan
Amidst a backlog of outstanding murder cases awaiting the dispensation of justice, Minister of Public Security
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan
Khemraj Ramjattan has issued a plea to the Guyanese public to repose their trust in the Guyana Police Force and come forward with any new information that could warrant reopening these cases.
According to the minister, having been in ‘cold storage’, these cases cannot just be reopened without a basis or additional information to give just cause. He added that neither can they be reopened based on the desire of the new Minister of Public Security.
“Cold cases will be revisited once there is new evidence found, or if there is good reason found to go forward with them.” He said.
Ramjattan listed several instances whereby the reopening of a cold case would be warranted. These include if a new witness comes forward or if new DNA testing becomes available that would likely cause a difference of opinion.
“So there might be some cases I would want to be reopened, but not necessarily all. I will have to have the grounds to reopen them.” He said.
He also issued a plea to the general public to come forward with new genuine information they might have relating to cold cases.
Meanwhile, addressing the controversial forensic lab, the minister admitted that the entity faced some difficulties, but stated that it was largely an issue of the absence of technical personnel to perform DNA testing and support staff manning the structure.
The $900M forensic lab
According to him, the staff to maintain and keep specimens safe and legally tenable is not in place as yet.
He said it is important to ensure the integrity and professionalism of staffers at the lab, as well as keeping documents relating to DNA testing in cases before the court safe and free of tampering and forgery.
However, Ramjattan affirmed that after lengthy discussions with Charge d’ Affairs of the United States Embassy Bryan Hunt, he has indicated a willingness to help in that regard.
“It is no use setting up the lab without the personnel. It is like buying an airplane without a pilot. It would be parked up. So it is important that we go there by stages.”
According to him, professional and accurate documentation of records, preservation and placement of specimens were of utmost importance in ensuring that the lab functioned as it should.
He revealed that it was a lack of these very systems in the running of the lab that caused the delays in preparing specimens for DNA testing, in addition to lack of available equipment.
The $900M Forensic lab, located in the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown was first commissioned in 2014 under the Citizen Protection Programme (CSP).
However on March 17th, a fire of electrical origin occurred that reportedly left a section of the edifice inoperable.
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