National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia has said there needs to be deeper information sharing among security agencies and partners within the region to ensure greater success of the local security sector.

Addressing the opening of the Regional Security Conference this morning in Georgetown, Mr. Gouveia said the Security Forces are operating in an era where the threat landscape is shifting rapidly. He said the country faces a complex mix of challenges which include transnational criminal networks, cyber-enabled crime, narco-trafficking, illegal firearms, border pressures, gang activity, and even school-based incidents.

“Our security successes must be anchored in intelligence-led operations. This requires deeper information-sharing between agencies — not only vertically to headquarters, but horizontally across institutions. When the GPF, CANU, GDF, Immigration, and regional authorities operate with fused intelligence, we close gaps, we reduce duplication, and we enhance real-time response,” Mr. Gouveia told the opening of the conference.

He said the forces central priority going forward must be situational awareness—and their ability to respond effectively—whether to illegal migration, contraband flows, domestic violence, robberies, marijuana cultivation, or hinterland vulnerabilities. He said these depends on the quality of information flowing from the regions. He also called for strengthening of the reporting systems, so that those issues could be addressed.

“Importantly, Guyana’s regions are not homogenous. Region 1 faces riverine security and migration pressure; Regions 7, 8, and 9 struggle with communication limitations; Regions 6 and 10 have higher levels of marijuana cultivation; and Regions 2 and 4 face acute migrant-integration challenges. Our strategies must be differentiated, evidence-based, and tailored to the realities on the ground,” Mr. Gouveia said.

The National Security Advisor said the country is also accelerating technological modernisation across the security sector by expanding CCTV networks, drone surveillance, digital reporting tools, improved communications, and early-warning systems. These he said are central to Guyana’s security transformation.

Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, who also addressed the conference, noted that for the country’s security to be effective, it must also take into account what is being done in the regions and not only in Georgetown.

“Security cannot be commanded solely from Georgetown. It must be built collaboratively, region by region, community by community, and agency by agency,” the Minister stated.

The conference is also discussing issues relating to Border security and migration management in the context of increased Venezuelan migration here.

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