Forensic Sciences Centre reopening set to transform crime detection – AG

The fight against crime is poised for a significant boost with the reopening of the Forensic Sciences Centre, scheduled to be fully operational by September, according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Dale Marshall. 

The upgraded, state-of-the-art facility is expected to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system and enhance the island’s capacity to investigate and prosecute serious crimes.

Marshall announced the development at the 2025 Criminal Law Annual Conference, themed The Legal Limits of Forensics: Admissibility, Integrity and the Abuse of Process’, hosted by the Barbados Bar Association and his office.

He acknowledged that the Forensic Sciences Centre had not fulfilled its intended role for the past 15 years, resulting in persistent challenges for law enforcement and the courts. 

“Instead of having our samples tested here, we’ve had to send them overseas to be tested. That requires a police officer to collect the sample, travel to the US, deliver the sample, wait for it, bring it back, and a host of other challenges. The situation has been most undesirable, and at every opportunity, certainly the Bar has lamented together with the police and the judges that Barbados could and should be doing better,” he said.

The new facility will feature Rapid Hit DNA tests capable of delivering results in 24 hours, gas chromatographs, and, for the first time in Barbados’ history, random-access toxicology analysers to support post-mortem investigations.

“It is my hope that the recent advancements in forensic method, supported by our work with the laboratory, will empower our investigative processes, bring clarity to complex cases, and ensure that justice is not only done but also seen to be done,” Marshall said.

Against the backdrop of a recent upsurge in criminal activity, including homicides and shootings, the attorney general emphasised that science had played a pivotal role in the country’s success in tackling crime. He referred to the Needham’s Declaration of October 2023 on criminal justice reform, which advocates for greater use of forensic, scientific, digital, and expert witness evidence, as well as modern evidence-gathering techniques such as interception of communications, digital recording of confessions and interviews, and DNA testing—methods seen as preferable to prosecutions based solely on admissions and confessions.

Marshall noted that Barbados had already achieved much of what the declaration prescribes and highlighted ongoing regional collaboration in forensic science, citing facilities in Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Guyana. He suggested that these centres could specialise in different areas and share resources. 

“Whatever the future holds, you can be assured that our Forensic Sciences Centre will not be allowed to fall down again,” he said.

President of the Barbados Bar Association, Kaye Williams, called for a much greater use of forensic evidence in the justice system, stressing its growing importance in judicial decisions. Williams argued there was a pressing need for attorneys, the judiciary and stakeholders to critically assess, challenge if necessary, and apply forensic findings. 

“The integrity of our processes in the justice system relies on the sound application, interpretation and principles of science and the principles of law. Forensics should not only be a tool in the courts. It should also assist and safeguard justice,” she said.

The one-day conference took place at the Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lord’s Castle. 

jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb