AN old Guyanese saying “Make do with what you have”, seems to have been lost on some institutions and people.

The security sector is said to need more training, equipment and higher salaries to become reasonably effective. Unfortunately, human factors such as morality, attitude, education and motivation need greater consideration. Higher salaries may definitely be a factor and a better excuse if based on skill sets, experience and performance.
Are the criminals really better trained, equipped and motivated than a police rank and why? Any waiting for highly specialised training to confront reasonably small and mostly lightly armed criminals cannot be easily understood. Hopefully, new reforms will address forensic and investigative techniques, a key factor needed locally.
Eventually, criminals were confronted with available resources, after talk of needing SWAT training and arms from overseas to do just that.  Certainly, the GDF with AK47s(?) and supposedly with some level of these skills could have immediately pitched in during this crisis sooner than later.
.
Commodore Best’s call for new missions besides protection of territorial integrity is long overdue. With limited financial and human resources currently, Guyana needs more like a National Guard to principally guard some border points, while providing backup for police when necessary, and guarding some public institutions when threatened with civil unrest.
The current threat from our neighbours are either unlikely or  will be overwhelming. The basic threat to Guyana is in Guyana and all plans must address this fact, when dealing with foreign military.  Also clear is that the security sector must do a much better job in using and maintaining equipment than may have been done before. Better marine and aerial resources are warranted, providing they are used effectively and the results justify their costs.