President Dr. Irfaan Ali has assured the nation that Guyana is working with regional partners to ensure the safety of the citizenry, following Trinidad and Tobago’s declaration of a state of emergency to address rising crime levels.
Speaking at his end-of-year press conference today, the President explained the migratory nature of criminal elements. “So as there is push factor, they look for new territory when they feel threatened in their existing territory, and as they come to [new] territory, they try to grow the network to own more territory,” he noted.
In response to a question on whether Guyana has heightened its security presence or received an invitation to assist Trinidad with its security challenges, Ali stated that Guyana’s engagement thus far is through the Regional Security System (RSS).
He said, “So I know there are discussions going on within the regional security architecture. Of course, there are measures to look for consequential effects. I want to put it that way.”
“So yes, the security architecture of the RSS spoke yesterday. There were discussions examining some of the possible threats and ensuring that our systems are rigid enough to avoid such threats. But working also with regional partners to ensure that our collective system protects our population.”
President Ali also underscored the interconnectedness of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. He noted, “We are a very integrated and closely knitted community across the CARICOM region. “So of course, this is a great concern to all of us in CARICOM.”
Moreover, President Ali also addressed misconceptions about Guyana’s crime-fighting efforts and commended the work of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). “I really want to congratulate the Guyana Police Force, all the officers and so on, who are working diligently to help us to fight crime,” he said.
Highlighting the initiatives undertaken in 2024, Ali pointed to the expansion of the Safe City Project, which has seen the installation of advanced surveillance systems in urban areas. Additionally, over 500 body cameras have been deployed to officers for use in crime prevention and traffic enforcement.
He also spoke about the success of the “Eye in the Sky” drone program and the Citizens’ Watch Program, which connects public CCTV systems to large screens in key areas such as Stabroek Market. This initiative allows citizens to monitor streets for potential threats.
