Written by Leroy Smith
OVER the years, Guyana has had a very clear and consistent position with respect to acts of terrorism perpetrated by individuals and groupings — the actions and activities of terrorists and extremists have been roundly condemned.

Weixiong Chen, Deputy Director of the United Nations Counter terrorism Committee and head of the delegation visiting Guyana, told the opening of a workshop in Georgetown yesterday morning that the United Nations is very pleased and impressed with Guyana’s position relative to terrorism.

The UN committee of experts will be engaging members of key security agencies in Guyana over the next few days, and according to Mr. Chen, the team would be heading back to the United States to brief its principals about issues affecting the local authorities. The team would be making a case on this country’s behalf.
Chen said that while the group so intends, Guyana needs to do its part by apprising the team of the works that are being done in respect to counter-terrorism, and the challenges in moving forward. He said that one of the reasons the group travelled to Guyana is to verify the media reports on this country, which they have so far been unable to confirm.

Mr. Chen said that what had been reported and what the group has researched and found does not cast Guyana in a bad light. He likened Guyana to Afghanistan and to another Middle Eastern country, and confidently said that Guyana is much safer and relatively calm compared to those countries.
Chen described the visit here as an honour for the UN, while pointing out that the purpose of the United Nations and its mandate is to ensure monitoring on compliance on projects in which the UN has an interest.
That process also includes examining existing programmes to ensure those are being carried out, and what needs to be done within are being done. Also critical is the aspect of finding the remedies.
The UN official, however, underscored the fact that such examinations and monitoring for Guyana are nothing new, given the many international and regional bodies this country has been working with over the years.
During its sessions, the team would be facilitating the various stages, and when the areas of concern and those for improvements are highlighted, those will be noted and addressed.
It was noted that finding those two aspects are critical, since it would create the basis and platform for helping in relation to the building of capacity, since the problems may not necessarily be restricted to one sector or issue.
The United Nations body has conducted similar visits to almost eight other countries, according to the head of the mission. He said help would be available to right areas only when the team is told of progress, strengths and challenges, and what are the needs for capacity building.
The coming days would not be easy, the group told participants of the workshop, pointing to frankness and an open approach that the facilitators would adopt. They exhorted participants to be cordial but candid and professional, since at the end of the day there is a job that the group has to do.
Mr. Chen declared that while the group has been able to gather information with respect to the part terrorism played in Guyana, there are several things on which they are not clear and would like to be enlightened on.
He said Guyana does not seem to have a counter-terrorism strategy and an inter-agency policy, and that is of concern to the United Nations. Also of concern to the grouping is the trafficking in firearms.
Guyana was given thumbs up by the United Nations for its Human Rights’ efforts and the level of tolerance for religion. The United Nations official made it clear that if, following the engagements, the situation in Guyana is improved, the body would be working with Guyana and fighting its causes at various levels.
Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, after listening to Weixiong Chen, was forced to divert from his prepared speech. He said that to hear of the plans of the United Nations on the possible areas of further cooperation was good news on a Monday morning, especially since, in the security sector, there is not much good news coming that early in the morning.
The minister pointed to the remarks of the UN official that Guyana was not a dangerous place to visit, and said the decision is to work to ensure that Guyana is not forgotten by the United Nations.
Rohee assured that the  delegation would indeed be impressed with the level of intensity of the engagements, especially on the part of Guyana, which may very well be more than the delegation expects.
While admitting that it may be true that Guyana does not have a counter-terrorism strategy, the minister added that what this country is doing in actuality, and the fact that many things are being doing in the various sectors, could very well constitute the framework and basis of a counter-terrorism strategy.
Rohee pointed to establishment of a cyber crime unit, which he alerted the UN official might have been one of the things that he missed with respect to what Guyana is doing in its own little corner in the fight against terrorism.
He also pointed out that Guyana seizes every opportunity that comes its way with respect to training and engagements which are aimed at strengthening the borders, and to ensure effective border controls.
Minister Rohee said that, like every other country, Guyana is bound to ensure that it revisits the existing mechanism that deals with the security of the nation and the implemented arrangements aimed at countering terrorism.
He added that Guyana has come a far way, while acknowledging that there is still need to better strengthen the systems. The progress can be described as slow but sure, the minister added.