After three years, still no DNA testing at forensic lab in Guyana

As investigations continue into the brutal death of Richard Ishmael Secondary School teacher Kescia Branche, whose battered body was found at the corner of Princes Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown, Police are encountering hindrance by the lack of DNA testing being conducted locally.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was recently questioned over the status of the lab’s readiness for DNA testing, and he responded by saying that the necessary infrastructure is still not in place at the forensic lab to conduct these tests.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a material that is found in all living organisms, and it has been used to solve murders across many of the world’s countries. In July 2014, over three years ago, Guyana’s first forensic laboratory was officially opened, but the lack of DNA testing at that facility continues to provide a challenge to the solving of many high profile murder cases, with the latest being the gruesome killing of the 22-year-old school teacher alluded to above.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan explained to reporters last week that the necessary infrastructure is still not in place to preserve the samples.
He had earlier expressed hope that the facility would be ready by this year, but he again gave all assurances that DNA testing would be conducted at the facility sometime in 2018.
“I had really wanted it before the end of this year, but it doesn’t seem that that will happen, because the air ventilation and the air conditioning unit to ensure the proper preservation and no disintegration, and the proper temperature of the samples, were not put in place,” Ramjattan observed.
He added that the American Embassy is supporting the move to have DNA testing being done in Guyana, which comes under the second component of the Public Security Ministry’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme for improving the Guyana Police Force’s Forensic Laboratory’s effectiveness in preventing and conducting crime investigations.
The forensic laboratory is currently equipped to conduct testing including on fake currency, forged documents, narcotics, and ballistics.
Ramjattan noted that staff and training on using the equipment to conduct the tests are needed. In the meantime sending the samples overseas is the only option, as Police are trying to match the blood found on a car to that of the murdered school teacher. The Police were recently granted an extension to further detain the owner of that vehicle.