The National Intelligence and Security Agency will now function under new legislation that will allow “spies” to be deployed overseas to gather information on the grounds of national security. This and other functions were outlined in a Bill that was gazetted at the weekend. The Bill will be laid today in Parliament.
Guyana Standard understands that the agency will report directly to Head of State Dr. Irfaan Ali. Among its proposed functions, the agency is authorized to collect information from any public authority; even though many of these public offices have non-disclosure protocols.
It was further noted that the Director of the Intelligence Agency, with the approval of the President, may assign officers of the agency to serve as liaison officers to embassies abroad, when necessary for the fulfillment of the responsibilities of the agency.
However, any actions of the ‘spies’ of the local intelligence agency will be covered by the Police Act and the Defence Act. This means that the agency will carry out its work in keeping with the defence and foreign policies of Guyana.
This will allow mechanisms to be established to ensure that there are no threats of espionage, terrorism and sabotage from the activities of persons within Guyana or agents of foreign powers. The agency will also prevent any person from undermining democracy and national institutions.
Meanwhile, persons or sources who share information with the agency will not face any criminal action. These include lawyers according to the draft legislation. The agency will also perform undercover work to gather information and intelligence needed for the agency to function.
According to the draft bill, “The agency may request a public body for information and the public body shall, notwithstanding the Access to Information Act 2011 or any other law, make available to the agency any information requested within 48 hours or within a reasonable time stated in the request,”
After the bill is passed in the National Assembly, the President will be responsible for appointing the Director of the agency. The Leader of the Opposition is expected to be consulted to nominate a representative who will sit on the National Intelligence committee.
The Intelligence Agency was established in 2010 and was renamed in 2017 by former President David Granger.
