Guyana launches defence studies to forge next generation security leaders

…to equip leaders to think, decide, act for Guyana’s security future – PM

Guyana has taken a major step toward strengthening its national security framework with the official launch of the Certificate in Defence Studies programme at the National Defence Institute (NDI), aimed at developing a new generation of strategic thinkers and security professionals.

Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who declared the programme open, described the initiative as a transformative investment in the country’s future.
“Today is not simply the launch of a new programme; rather, it marks a meaningful step forward in our country’s development and how we prepare for the future of national security, broadly defined,” he said.
The programme, he explained, goes beyond traditional military training and is designed to equip participants with critical thinking skills, strategic insight, and leadership capacity.
“This programme isn’t just theory. It’s about strengthening judgement, improving decision-making, and deepening our understanding of the complex and evolving environment in which we must operate,” Phillips stated.
He said the initiative will prepare officers and security professionals to operate across multiple domains, including land, air, maritime, and cyber, while also fostering a deeper understanding of how these areas intersect in modern security operations.
The PM emphasised that the institute will play a central role in shaping Guyana’s national security strategy.
“National Defence Institute is central to our Government’s conception of our national security… without strategic knowledge, you cannot develop a comprehensive national security strategy,” he said.
He added that the NDI will serve as more than a training facility.
“It is where ideas are tested, where doctrine is developed, and it must be where strategy is defined,” PM Phillips noted.
The programme also brings together members of the Guyana Defence Force, Police Force, Fire Service, Prison Service, and civilian agencies, promoting interagency collaboration and coordination.
“This shared learning environment strengthens coordination, builds mutual understanding and fosters a unified approach to national security,” he explained.

Intellectual and strategic capacity
Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan described the initiative as a critical investment in the country’s intellectual and strategic capacity.
“Initiatives like these are not routine undertakings. They are investments in the intellectual infrastructure of our nation,” Brigadier Khan said.
He stressed that the programme is fundamentally about shaping how leaders think.
“At the core of this course is the shaping of minds… strategy does not begin with resources. It begins with thought, perspective, and the ability to see beyond the present and prepare for what does not yet exist,” he stated.
Khan further noted that strong national development depends on independent thinking and continuous learning.
“A nation that thinks for itself and plans for itself is a nation that secures its future for itself,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff urged participants to fully embrace the programme as a transformative experience.
“Let this course not simply be a programme to attend but a process that transforms how we think, how we decide,” he told students.
PM Phillips, in closing, underscored that the programme represents more than an academic milestone.
“We are not just launching a programme; we are opening a pathway for growth, for learning and for stronger and higher leadership… Above all, we are investing in the people who will defend and protect our nation,” he said.
He then formally declared the programme open, wishing participants success as they embark on the course.
The NDI was established in 2024 as part of the Government’s broader strategy to strengthen the protection of Guyana’s national interests and enhance the region’s resilience against emerging security threats.