Guyana calls for modernised apparatus to confront security threats

Last Updated on Saturday, 8 February 2025, 21:12 by Writer

Guyana is pushing for a boost in its security apparatus that could also be of wider benefit to the Caribbean especially at a time of Venezuela’s intense sabre-rattling to press its claim to the mineral and biodiversity-rich Essequibo Region, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said Friday evening.

“Venezuela’s aggressive rhetoric towards Guyana is not only a threat to our national security but also challenges the region’s aspirations to remain a Zone of Peace,” he said at a closing ceremony of the “Strategy and Defence Policy Course” held by the William J. Perry Center and the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) National Defence Institute from 3- 7 February 2025.

Mr Persaud welcomed the US’ consistent condemnation of Venezuela’s claims over the Essequibo and its steadfast support of Guyana’s sovereign and territorial integrity. “The government and people of Guyana are truly appreciative of this support which was recently reaffirmed during a recent call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Irfaan Ali,” he said. In that call with Secretary Rubio, the Foreign Secretary recalled that President Ali indicated Guyana’s readiness to work with the Trump administration to address regional challenges, including illegal migration.

He observed that regional security is increasingly facing complex and interrelated challenges that transcend borders, including drug trafficking, transnational crimes, money laundering, trafficking in persons, and displacement and illegal migration. Mr Persaud recommended that strong partnerships be built among countries and stakeholders in the region to foster cooperation and collaboration, information sharing, and knowledge exchange.

“A professional and credible security apparatus is pertinent to national security. As such, there has to be an enhanced focus on training and increased efforts aimed at modernising defence capabilities in a way that seeks to ensure interoperability between systems in the region,” he said.

Citing the need for increased diplomatic efforts as key to this endeavour, the Foreign Secretary said the Guyana-USA strategic partnership offers opportunities to explore innovative ways for combatting security challenges, including through the use of technologies to manage security risks.

The annual Caribbean military exercise “Tradewinds”, under the auspices of the US Southern Command (SouthCom), emphasises interoperability among the region’s military, police, and disaster response agencies with their partners in North America and Europe. The ‘first of its kind’ course on Strategy and Defence Policy, in collaboration with the William J. Perry Center, focussed on key aspects of policy planning related to security and defence.

Meanwhile, Mr Persaud said Guyana’s largest trading partners accumulated over $3.9 billion. He said Guyana has achieved a trade surplus for the first time in 2021 and it is envisaged that in the years ahead this trend will continue and increase exponentially.