–President Ali declares; says a secure environment is pivotal to attracting investments and fostering economic growth
AS Guyana forges ahead on its development path, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has declared a robust commitment to bolstering Guyana’s defence capability, revealing plans for increased investments in both material and human resources for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

In a year-end interview, the Head of State acknowledged the evolving nature of threats, pointing out the need for a proactive response to safeguard Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He stated: “As we grow, the threats are going to become more sophisticated, and the criminals are going to become more sophisticated.”

It is for this reason that Budget 2024 will reflect the increase in planned investments encompassing various aspects of the security apparatus, including the expansion of the air wing, maritime assets, and Coast Guard capabilities.

President Ali stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach, stating: “Those are important investments that we’re making. But also, critical training and other hardware equipment, cybersecurity, all of this will see extended expenditure in security.”

President Ali highlighted the interconnected nature of economic growth and security challenges.
“Not only will the economy become more sophisticated, but the type of criminals we will have operating in the economic space of Guyana will be far more sophisticated,” he added.

The upcoming budget is poised to reflect a strategic focus on security, particularly the GDF, with an emphasis on strengthening internal systems.

President Ali underscored the significance of building institutional capacity, training human resources, and advancing a holistic security architecture tailored for the current and emerging challenges.
“Investing in technology and building our institutional capacity are essential components of our security strategy,” President Ali said.

The administration’s commitment extends beyond conventional defence measures, with a keen focus on cybersecurity to counter the growing threat of cybercrimes.

The Head of State explained that as Guyana continues to position itself for sustained development, it must be acknowledged that a secure environment is pivotal to attracting investments and fostering economic growth.

Last month, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, explained that the primary objective is to bolster Guyana’s security apparatus in a defensive capacity, clarifying that there are no intentions to launch attacks on any nation, including Venezuela.

The Vice President referenced recent discussions between Presidents Dr. Irfaan Ali and Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro at the Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where there was a commitment to peace.
The meeting was facilitated by the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, and was observed by Brazil, CARICOM, and a UN Under-Secretary-General.

This historic meeting culminated in what is now known as the “Argyle Declaration,” an 11-point agreement which addresses matters consequential to the border controversy, including the fact that Guyana holds firmly to its position that the substantive case is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

President Ali and President Maduro have also committed to maintaining a “zone of peace,” as talks continue.
“We made it clear in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that our engagement with our international partners is to build capacity of a defensive nature,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

He dismissed any assertions that Guyana harbours “aggressive” intentions and assured that the focus is on safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty.

A British offshore patrol vessel, HMS Trent, docked in Guyana last Friday as part of a series of engagements in the region during her Atlantic Patrol Task deployment.

The ship’s crew will conduct joint activities with GDF, and provide support in various areas such as tackling piracy, smuggling, protecting fisheries, counterterrorism, providing humanitarian aid, and search-and-rescue operations.

Over the past few years, the government has invested significantly into the GDF, including enhancing the Force’s fleet of vessels, vehicles, and aircraft, and improving its technological capabilities through the acquisition of equipment and supplies.