THE United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, on Friday joined Commanding Officer Jennifer M Farina, Gunnery Sergeant Angel M Rodriguez, the Marine Security Guard (MSG) Detachment Commander, ranks from the Guyana Defence Force, and members of the diplomatic community in a ceremony to honour the activation of the MSG Programme at Embassy Georgetown. Ambassador Holloway thanked the marines for their service and recognised the seriousness with which they take their duty to protect personnel, facilities, and classified information, a release by the embassy stated. He welcomed them to Georgetown and the embassy community, noting that in his previous posts the marines have been a vital component in building camaraderie among all stakeholders.
The Marine Corps has a long history of cooperation and serving with distinction with the Department of State. Marines currently serve at 148 embassies and consulates around the world. Since 1949, Marine Security Guard detachments at U.S. diplomatic posts abroad have worked closely with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security to protect and safeguard American diplomacy.
Marine Security Guards (MSGs) stand duty 24 hours each day, seven days a week, at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. They staff the all-important Post One communications centre at our embassies, thereby ensuring vital emergency communications are properly routed during times of emergency or heightened alert. MSGs protect classified information and equipment from unauthorised disclosure, and provide internal security protection for U.S. citizens and U.S. Government property under a range of circumstances, up to and including hostile assaults.