The Joint Services are fortifying national defence through enhanced border security, modernised policing strategies, and coordinated intelligence systems.
This was highlighted during the season finale of the national security series ‘Safeguarding Our Nation’ which aired on Tuesday. It provided an in-depth look at Guyana’s preparedness amid mounting regional security challenges, including increased drug trafficking across the Caribbean and the growing influence of Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles.
At a recent high-level Joint Services meeting, Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier General Omar Khan reaffirmed the military’s commitment to public service, noting the expansion of border patrols, deployment of advanced surveillance technology, and strengthened partnerships with neighbouring states as critical measures to safeguard Guyana.
“We will continue to speak on different subject matters relating to security and our nation’s view on what we’ve been doing. We exist to serve Guyana, the citizens of Guyana. We are committed to bringing that maximum results to the public,” he said.
Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken outlined ongoing investments to transform law enforcement, including the introduction of drones, body cameras, modern patrol vehicles, and the establishment of a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory.
“Safeguarding our nation is a topic that we should hold on to– the way we deliver to the public, by informing them of what they’re not cognisant of and importantly what we’re doing as a police force. We would have spoken from CID (Criminal Investigation Department), Traffic, Admin, and so they would have had a comprehensive setting in terms of how the police force operates,” he noted.
Hicken further emphasised that technology must complement strong community relations and professional policing standards.
Further strengthening the national security architecture, Colonel Sheldon Howell, Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), explained that the agency now coordinates intelligence across all services, ensuring rapid and unified responses to threats ranging from cyberattacks to natural disasters.
A second season of ‘Safeguarding Our Nation’ is expected to return soon to continue showcasing the work of those dedicated to protecting Guyana.
