–Gouveia tells panel discussion

GUYANA’S comprehensive public-security strategy is intricately tied to its broader plan for national development and prosperity, according to Gerry Gouveia, the National Security Adviser to President, Dr Irfaan Ali.

He made the revelation during a panel discussion last week that was hosted by the University of Guyana’s (UG) Institute for Human Resiliency, Strategic Security, and the Future (IHRSSF), in collaboration with the Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies in Washington, DC.

“Our defence and security architecture and strategy are based on national security being directly connected to the attainment of national prosperity and national development,” said Gouveia, a former military officer, veteran airline transport-rated pilot and businessman.

Central to Guyana’s national-security strategy, he noted, is the recognition of interconnectedness between security and development. The presidential adviser acknowledged that a stable and secure environment is indispensable for economic growth, social cohesion, and prosperity.

Gouveia explained: “So, everything we do in the national security, it is not disengaged from what is happening in the economy, in national development and so… We are very aware that national prosperity is not about money; it’s not about being wealthy.”

He added, “It’s about taking the money and creating an environment where every citizen can experience and enjoy social justice, social cohesion. Every citizen must have equal access to opportunities and the issue of creating jobs in the private sector, creating the enabling environment.”

According to Gouveia, embracing democratic principles, strengthening governance structures, and international relations are not only moral imperatives, but are also pragmatic strategies for securing national prosperity and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

“When we get those things right, and national prosperity becomes a reality… then the hard-core issue of national security, the police and the army and the prison…then those jobs become easy for us.”
Speaking at UG’s award ceremony last Wednesday, when the institution received the 2023 Perry Center for Hemispheric Studies award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education, President Ali emphasised the significance of having personnel capable of conducting strategic analyses to identify threats, particularly internal ones, considering the security environment of the nation.

In this regard, he disclosed that UG will serve as the home of the National Defence Institute, a “subset” of the National Defense University of the United States. Serving the Caribbean and other regional partners such as Brazil and even Venezuela, is the institute’s goal. The institute is expected to be established by the government by the first half of 2024.