US boosts Guyana’s anti-money laundering fight with US$500,000

The US Government last Friday, through a Letter of Agreement, gave US$500,000 to the Guyana Government in support of this country’s law enforcement building and anti-money laundering under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

According to a release from the US Embassy, Ambassador D Brent Hardt signed the agreement with Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. It said the funding is also expected to strengthen counter-narcotic control capabilities and enhance communications to assist with information collection and identification of drug trafficking organisations. It will be used to increase interdictions, seizures and eradication operations and to reduce the incidence of drug-related violence.

The release said that agreement reflects the US Government’s commitment to deepen security partnership with Guyana.

The CBSI is a multinational partnership between the US and the nations of the Caribbean designed to advance citizen security in the region. Through this initiative all partner nations are undertaking cooperative efforts to reduce illicit trafficking, advance public safety and security, and promote social justice. It was developed together with Caribbean governments and fulfils President Barack Obama’s commitment to deepened regional security cooperation made at the Fifth Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad in April 2009.