GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Irfaan Ali Wednesday said the University of Guyana (UG) would serve as the seat of the National Defence Institute (NDI), which he says is intended to play a major role in Caribbean security.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Paloma Mohamed and President Dr. irfaan Ali hold the Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education from the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, as other officials look on (DPI Photo)“This partnership is about positioning us, as a country, as a university and we want to position Guyana and the University of Guyana and then the National Defence Institute as the premier regional security institutions,” Ali said.
Ali, speaking at a ceremony to mark UG’s acceptance of the prestigious Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education from the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, said that it would be established during the first half of 2024.
He said that the NDI would serve the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Brazil and “why not even personnel from Venezuela to be part of our security infrastructure from an institutional perspective, from a training perspective.”
Ali said that the aim is to position the University of Guyana “as a central hub” for security training and integration of leaders for security and defence leadership.
He said that the NDI would be a “subset” of the United States’ National Defence University. “We find great alignment between the academic curriculum and the strategic thinking of the National Defence University and our strategic vision and strategic thinking as your regional security partner,” said Ali, who is also a graduate of the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.
During his address, President Ali challenged the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana to convince the Barbados-based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) to offer a subject on the Fundamentals of Hemispheric Security as part of efforts to lay the groundwork for youths who want to pursue defence and security careers.
“That would allow them an early introduction to how complex security matters are and how important it is in the political economy and how important it is in the structure of society and the building out of society,” he said, recommending also that UG and the Perry Centre develop programmes on banking security, cybersecurity, port security, combatting gangs, and conduct of joint operations.
In her address to the ceremony, US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole D. Theriot congratulated the University of Guyana for winning the William J. Perry Center Award for Excellence in Security and Defense Education.
She said the award “is also yet another demonstration of the excellent collaboration between the United States and Guyana for the advancement of both our nations and our shared values in support of a prosperous, peaceful region”
She said as a result of the programme, the United States government and the Perry Center were ready and willing partners in advising on potential curriculum and solutions in addressing Guyana’s security challenges
“As we reflect on this outstanding achievement, it is critical to remember that the students of UG’s programme are the foundation of this success. Their commitment to knowledge and developing Guyana’s future is an inspiration to us all.
“The commitment to developing the talent of Guyana to meet the challenges of tomorrow is vital for the continued growth and prosperity of the country and the entire region. And with new and more complex challenges occurring every single day, Ukraine, Gaza, the rapid expansion of gangs and a skyrocketing murder rate in Trinidad and Tobago to name just a few, there has never been a more important time for these bright, accomplished students to take their place as leaders,” the US ambassador said.
The diplomat also praised President Ali, “himself an alumni of the Perry Center, who led by example with one of the most complex, distressing security challenges anyone might ever face, the devolving security situation in Haiti”.
She said that she lived and worked in Haiti for several years up until July 2022, and as a result knows “firsthand how incredibly difficult that security situation is”.
She said she “desperately hopes” what was achieved in Jamaica on Monday with regards to the Haitian situation “ will be the first step to end the security and humanitarian crisis in that incredibly fraught country”.
