Launch of National Defence Institute: President Ali challenges body to conduct comprehensive analysis of gang movement within Region

– findings to be submitted at upcoming Caricom Security Meeting

To enhance security education and training, the Guyana Government on Wednesday launched the National Defence Institute (NDI), which has already received its first directive from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr Irfaan Ali, to conduct a comprehensive study on the movement of gangs within the Region.
The mission of the NDI is to educate joint services officers and their civilian counterparts using a defence, security, and development-focused curriculum delivered in a civil-military context, better equipping them to assume mid- to senior-level operational and strategic roles within their parent organisations. Its overarching vision is for the institute to be a leading academic institution in defence, security, and development studies in Guyana and the Americas.
Speaking during Wednesday’s launch at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, President Ali pointed out that this institute will focus on academic research as well as producing action plans and analysis of threats and challenges facing the Region.
One such threat that the Guyanese Head of State believes must be analysed is the criminal gang network in the Region. According to Ali, since there has been no strategic study of migration and the movement of people in the Region, leaders have been unable to strategically determine which gangs are operating here.

“Those who are aware of the way gangs operate would know that simple things like tattoos and symbols can give an idea of the magnitude of gangs, different gangs, and the complexity of those gangs that are operating in our society. And this is a threat for the Region and a threat for us. If we do not, analytically, get to the bottom of this, our small societies will be faced with immense danger. It’s already faced with great danger, but immense danger that can destabilise our economy, destabilise our society and create havoc,” he posited.
Consequently, Ali charged the newly established body to conduct “a comprehensive analysis” of the gangs in the Region with a specific focus on the movement and migration patterns of the criminal gang network within the Region.
“[NDI will look at] what attracts them? How are they moving… What is motivating them? And sometimes you see gangs might believe that there is a weak institutional framework or a weak system that they can infiltrate easier in one jurisdiction than the other, or that it’s easy to get a supply of weapons coming in. So, we’ll know what is influencing or motivating the gangs to operate in particular areas.”
“[We have to also look at] the material because gangs don’t just move, they have to have material that aid their operation. So, we have to have an analysis of that and management. Who is managing again? How are they getting covered and the links and lifecycle of the gangs? So those are immediate work that the Institute’s producing,” President Ali stated.

Regional institute
The Guyanese Leader further challenged to NDI to complete this study so that the findings can be presented at an upcoming follow-up regional security meeting that will be held in Barbados. This way, he explained, the Institute would be able to position itself at the regional level.
According to President Ali, the goal is to make the NDI into the go-to intelligence and defense security body in the Caribbean Region.
“The National Defense Institute is a regional Institute, and within a short time period, we want this to be the premier intelligence defense security agency in the Region. We want this institute to be the institute that will be training all our strategic thinkers in defense and security,” he noted.
While this Institute falls under the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), it will be working closely with strategic partners to execute its mandate.
Regionally, the NDI will be working with the Regional Security System (RSS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).

However, the Institute’s main strategic partners are the United States National Defense University and The Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies which were crucial in conceptualising the curriculum for the NDI programmes that will be administered through the University of Guyana (UG).
With the NDI operating as a sister institute of the NDU and Perry Center, it will be used to train persons within CARICOM, South America and Central America. The NDI is currently finalising arrangements to have all of its certificates accredited so that those credits can be transferred to postgraduate or non-graduate programmes.
Moreover, the Institute is looking to tap into the expertise of some “big names” in the regional and global security sectors including former presidents, former army generals and chiefs, former US Secretaries of State, former security/defence secretaries and both former and current members of academia along with diplomats.
At the national level, President Ali highlighted during Wednesday’s launch that the NDI is part of a much larger plan aimed at protecting and safeguarding Guyana’s national interests against every threat, particularly its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
These sentiments were echoed by Chairman of the NDI, Colonel Sheldon Howell, who said “The National Defence Institute will serve as a critical platform for developing the strategies and policies that will safeguard our nation’s interests. The leaders trained here will be instrumental in creating sustainable security programmes that not only protect our sovereignty but also contribute to the broader goals of national development.”
Colonel Howell recalled that following the announcement of the institute’s establishment just over a year ago, an advisory board was appointed along with a director and an assistant director. Since then, several agreements have been signed with several universities and academic agencies to get the Institute operational.
According to the NDI Chairman, Guyana is now poised to emerge as a more significant and dynamic strategic influencer in both regional and global affairs with the establishment of this institute.
“In a rapidly evolving environment marked by both traditional and emerging threats—including territorial claims, illegal migration, and transnational organised crime—the need for a well-trained cadre of security professionals has never been more urgent,” he stated.
Meanwhile, NDI Director, Dr. Randolph Persaud, added that they are “ready to roll” and will commence, focusing on four research and teaching areas: Foreign Policy and Diplomacy; Strategic Studies; Human Security and Development; and Civilian-Military relations.
The first class – a Certificate in Defence Studies – is set to commence soon and according to Dr. Persaud, a full undergraduate programme and Master’s Degree in Defence Studies are currently in the planning stages.
On the training side, the NDI Director said they will soon conduct a tabletop exercise on Emergency Rescue and Evacuation Operations. Another focus area will be Cybersecurity training for Chief Executive Officers and Heads of state agencies.
The other members of the NDI are Assistant Director, Seon Levius; Ambassador Elizabeth Harper; Assistant Commissioner of Police Simon McBean; Lt. Col. Eon Murray; Lt. Col. Andy Pompey, and Mrs. Debbie Hopkinson. (G-8)