India, Guyana and CARICOM host counter-terrorism workshop

A workshop and exhibition on Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement was held on Friday at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, bringing together key national, regional, and international stakeholders to strengthen security collaboration across the Caribbean.

The event was organised by the High Commission of India in collaboration with Guyana, the CARICOM Secretariat, United Nations Agencies in Guyana, and other regional partners. The initiative aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and build capacity in areas such as counter-terrorism, law enforcement, forensic sciences, and cyber security.

Experts from India’s premier institutions – the Rashtriya Raksha University and the National Forensic Sciences University- shared their expertise and showcased cutting-edge technologies and best practices in security management, policing, and forensic innovation.

Speaking at the opening, High Commissioner of India to Guyana and Ambassador to CARICOM, Dr. Amit Telang, underscored the significance of the initiative, noting that issues such as human trafficking, piracy, drug trafficking, and illegal fishing remain critical concerns for the region.

“India has experienced some of these challenges and shares those experiences with partners in the Global South.

“India strongly believes in collaboration and cooperation towards ensuring the sharing of knowledge, cost-effective solutions, and building a strong foundation for South-South cooperation,” Dr. Telang stated.

He further added that cybersecurity also requires greater attention, as digital threats increasingly transcend borders and affect national resilience.

Ambassador and Director of Defense Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brigadier (Ret’d) Godfrey Bess also delivered remarks and highlighted the changing security landscape in the Caribbean.

Bess said for decades, the Caribbean had been widely regarded as a zone of peace, but today the region faces new security challenges that transcend borders and increasingly test the resilience of societies.

“No country, no matter how peaceful, is immune to such evolving threats,” Bess stated.

Brigadier Bess also highlighted that these threats can undermine public security and national sovereignty. And so, he called for greater regional cooperation to effectively address transnational crime and safeguard Caribbean societies.

“The Caribbean must now more than ever enhance its capacity to protect its citizens and defend sovereignty,” he urged.