This was reported by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly briefing in Georgetown yesterday.

Luncheon observed that the collaboration between the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and diplomatic security and the CID is likely to provide an opportunity to local security personnel to enhance their knowledge and negotiating skills in dealing with kidnappers.

The United States dispatched investigators here Sunday after Steve Lesniak, head of security at its embassy in Georgetown, was kidnapped Saturday morning while playing golf at the Lusignan Golf Club, East Coast Demerara .

Lesniak was snatched at about 09:10 hrs by two men armed with guns, but was released some 10 hours later after a ransom of US$10,000 was reportedly paid by a "lady friend," sources said.

He was the first diplomat to have been kidnapped in Guyana and the 18th kidnap victim over the past year in which there has been a spate of violent crimes.

According to reports, the kidnappers had emerged from the bushes east of the Golf Club ground and took him on foot through the bushes headed in the direction of Buxton, also on the East Coast Demerara.

Buxton has been linked with a wave of armed kidnappings, killings, robberies and criminal violence over the past year.

Luncheon said Cabinet, being extremely concerned about the spate of kidnappings, has solicited help internationally and regionally to enhance training and capacity building to combat the situation and has received favourable responses.

He said Trinidad, from which there seems to be a parallel evolution of this type of crime, has indicated its willingness to provide assistance to the local security forces in their efforts to grapple with the situation.

There is need for cooperation from the victims of kidnappings and their families in relation to providing information on kidnappers to help the security forces in their apprehension, Luncheon said.

"The law enforcement agencies, and particularly those addressing the recent upsurge, continue to plead for cooperation from the families of the kidnapped victims and the victims themselves, for their support and assistance in the fight against kidnapping and extortion," he told reporters.

Touching on the Buxton situation, Luncheon said Cabinet is convinced that the village is a source and refuge of the kidnappers.

"Cabinet was advised and is still convinced that Buxton was and is the source and refuge of the kidnappers and the most likely place where victims are secreted during the kidnapping episodes," he noted.

As regards the objectives of apprehending the criminals in Buxton and preventing their activities from affecting surrounding communities, Luncheon observed that these have not been realised.

However, he said that an intervention that is supported by a wide cross-section of society is more likely to bring an end to the existing situation in the troubled village and produce the desired results as opposed to one that generates conflicts and recrimination.