Guyana’s Forensic Lab to clear up back-log of gun residue tests with German “powerhouse” microscope

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 January 2025, 21:26 by Writer

The Ministry of Home Affairs’ Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSR) is now geared to clear up a backlog of gun residue (GSR) analysis with the acquisition of the most modern microscope in the Caribbean, officials said Wednesday.

“It comes in a timely manner because the lab now has a little bit of a buildup of GSR samples and we will work to ensure that we clear all backl0gs and prioritise cases as they come in,” Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Andre Ally told the unveiling ceremony for the field emissions scanning electron (SEM) microscope SIGMA 360VP, made by the German company ZEISS.

Mr Ally said the GY$86 million (Euros 370,000) microscope could analyse as much as 19 samples at once including overnight work. He said more than 200 firearms were seized last year by police and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) agents.

Unlike a previous company, the Permanent Secretary said ZEISS would be providing the support for the SEM. Home Affairs Minister Robeson said the GSR backlog was due to the lack of support for a SEM made by another manufacturer. “We’re way behind and this acquisition will get us to the point where we’re even and where we could do some other work in relation to what is happening,” Mr Benn said.

The SEM would be used primarily to test for firearm residues, ballistics, traffic accidents, explosives, fibres, documents, toxicology, entomology, and traces and indications.

GFSL Deputy Director Charis Griffith said the “top-notch” “powerhouse” would assist investigators to acquire evidence about seized firearms and firearm-related crimes. She said the new equipment would assist the lab in fast-tracking gun residue tests and support and develop other forensic sectors, particularly those of trace evidence-related crimes that are of small magnitude but make a big impact to cases. “The GFSL’s role in analysing gunshot residue is, therefore, key in supporting criminal justice system as the courts rely on our expert testimony and quality results to aid in those rulings,” she said. Ms Griffith said five forensic experts were being trained to use the SEM microscope to the benefit of local and overseas forensic and academic communities.

The microscope could also perform sophisticated tests in the fields of natural resources, including mining and oil and gas, steel and and other metals industry, automotive and aerospace industry, materials science and life science research.

The GFSL is accredited to ISO/IEC17025:2017 standard by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation December 30, 2021, to December 29, 2025.