Minister Robeson Benn confirmed the government’s intention to implement facial recognition technology, when the issue was raised during the Ministry of Home Affairs’ end-of-year press conference, and highlighted the necessity for legislative measures to ensure proper oversight and protect citizens’ rights. He also emphasised the need to address transnational organised crime and sovereignty issues while balancing them with appropriate legal safeguards.
Last Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo revealed the government’s intention to introduce a biometric project which will allow the authorities to use facial recognition software. This software, he said, will be used to track people with criminal records and pinpoint their exact location at any given time. Jagdeo added that the soon-to-be constructed 12-storey Brickdam Police Station, which will be the “nerve centre” for crime fighting across the country, will assist in bolstering Guyana’s security plan.
