PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday, called for greater financial and technical support for the Regional Security System (RSS) while addressing the opening of the United Kingdom/Caribbean Heads of Defence Staff Conference at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

The Head of State noted that while each Caribbean territory is building out its security infrastructure, there must be a holistic approach to enhance the RSS’s capacity and capabilities.

He said focus must be placed on properly equipping the RSS, which is mandated to coordinate collective responses to threats to nations within the region.

The President, Guyana’s Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, also charged the officials taking part in the conference to produce a comprehensive document that analyses the current and potential threats and development complexities that are affecting the Region, including the effects of climate change and the required responses.

The conference, which is in its fourth edition, provides a platform for discussing current and emerging security threats to the region while facilitating analysis of issues impacting regional security, including humanitarian assistance, disaster response co-operation, and understanding the UK’s perspective on providing support.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), the Mark Phillips; High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Guyana, Jane Miller, along with senior officers from the UK and Caribbean, were also at the opening ceremony of the two-day event.