Guyana has strengthened its commitment to regional security and justice by officially joining the Alliance for Security, Justice, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
Representing Guyana at the signing ceremony was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Andre Ally.

The Alliance was launched during the Regional Security and Justice Summit held on December 11-12, 2024, in Bridgetown, Barbados.
According to a release from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the initiative seeks to combat the growing influence of organised crime in the region through a unified, evidence-based approach.
It brings together countries and international partners to strengthen institutions, protect vulnerable communities, disrupt illicit financial networks, and mobilise resources against transnational criminal organisations.

IDB President Ilan Goldfajn during the launch pointed out the urgency of coordinated regional efforts, stating that organised crime operates across borders and requires bold, collaborative action.
“The Alliance for Security, Justice, and Development will enable strategic partnerships and resource mobilisation, essential to amplify the impact of our countries’ efforts in addressing organised crime,” he said.

The Alliance’s core priorities include protecting vulnerable populations and communities most affected by organised crime, strengthening security and justice institutions to improve response effectiveness, and reducing illicit financial flows while dismantling criminal markets that empower criminal organisations.

Countries that have joined the Alliance include Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Suriname, The Bahamas, and Uruguay.
The Alliance has also secured the involvement of 11 major organisations, including the Organisation of American States (OAS), INTERPOL, the World Bank, CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), the Caribbean Development Bank, Caricom IMPACS, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC), the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Regional Security System (RSS), and the Italo-Latin American Institute (IILA).

Ecuador will hold the first pro tempore presidency of the Alliance, while the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will serve as the technical Secretariat, providing strategic support, mobilising resources, and scaling up effective interventions.
With a focus on fostering a safer, fairer, and more prosperous future for citizens across the region, Guyana stands ready to contribute to and benefit from this collaborative initiative through the implementation of sustainable policies that promote regional security, justice, and development.