PM Phillips – Guyana’s security strategy must go beyond military strength

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Tuesday said Guyana’s national security strategy must extend beyond traditional military capabilities.

He made the remarks while delivering the feature address at the launch of the National Defence Institute’s Certificate in Defence Studies programme.

Speaking on behalf of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, whom he described as the driving force behind the institute, Phillips noted that the programme represents an important step in strengthening a modern and adaptable security sector.

Addressing participants at Base Camp Ayanganna, he highlighted the growing volatility of the global environment and referenced ongoing conflicts in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe, which continue to cause displacement and instability.

“The world we live in today has no place for delay,” the prime minister asserted, noting that disease, poverty and social instability continue to claim millions of lives each year.

Against this backdrop, he emphasised that Guyana’s approach to security must be comprehensive, aligning with President Ali’s vision to prioritise human development, well-being and human security.

“At the end of it all, it is the security of the people that matters most,” he declared.

The programme is designed to develop strategic thinkers and strengthen decision-making across the disciplined services, with training spanning land, air, maritime and cyber domains.

The prime minister emphasised that the NDI will serve as a hub for knowledge production, collaboration and strategy development. It will bring together the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force and other key agencies in a unified approach to national security.

Brigadier Phillips stated that it will enhance surveillance, intelligence, and real-time decision-making, emphasising the need for trained professionals to oversee its use.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening national security, he outlined priorities, including safeguarding sovereignty, enhancing border security, expanding cybersecurity, and deepening regional and international partnerships.

The NDI, a brainchild of President Ali, was launched in September 2024 to establish a centre of excellence in defence, security and development studies in Guyana and the wider Americas.

The institute is intended to build capacity within the country’s security architecture, offering world-class training locally and regionally.

Currently housed at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen campus, the NDI draws on local, regional and international expertise, with plans already in place for a dedicated facility.

Director of the institute, Dr Randolph Persaud, has also secured strategic partnerships with institutions including the Rashtriya Raksha University, the William J. Perry Centre, the University of California, Berkeley, the State University of New York and the University of Guyana, supporting the training of dozens of local participants to date.