THE latest effort by Guyana in strategic education and defence signifies a committed role to national and regional security.

Yet another significant highlight of this journey was when 40 participants successfully completed a week-long course, Strategy and Defence Policy, that was led by the William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, in association with the National Defence Institute (NDI).

This initiative highlights the growing emphasis on capacity-building within Guyana’s security architecture, in furtherance of the broader objective of engendering resilience within an increasingly complex global security environment.

The course covered critical areas such as crisis decision-making, human rights and arms proliferation, equipping participants from diverse sectors–including the Guyana Defence Force, Police Force, and Environmental Protection Agency–with essential strategic tools.

This multidisciplinary approach shows that modern security challenges are not discrete, individualised issues, but rather are deeply interconnected, with solutions requiring broad co-operation.

Dr. Randolph Persaud, Director of the NDI, aptly described the programme as an “overwhelming success” and emphasised the enhancement it provides in strategic thought and defence planning.
This achievement is part of a broader vision championed by President Irfaan Ali, who launched the NDI in 2024 to establish it as a regional hub of excellence in defence and development studies.

Partnerships with institutions such as the Perry Center, along with its intention to offer degree programmes, signal a transformative shift in Guyana’s approach to security education.

These complement prior work, such as the University of Guyana Master’s in Strategic Development Studies, recognised on the world stage via the 2023 Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education.

Guyana, therefore, leads from the front in defence education for other nations grappling with similar problems. In embracing knowledge-based interventions and international partnerships, Guyana secures itself while concurrently contributing to regional stability.

With threats across the world in continuous evolution, strategic foresight by Guyana propels it to leadership echelons within hemispheric security discourse-a position which requires sustained commitments and innovation.