NISA HQ to be renamed in honour of Dr Roger Luncheon – Pres Ali announces

…military, Police salute contributions of former Def Secretary

President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that as a mark of respect for Dr Roger Luncheon and for his sterling contributions to national development and the security sector, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) building will be named after him.
The President made this announcement while delivering a heartfelt tribute at the funeral service of the late Dr Luncheon, hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Tuesday. In his tribute, the President also hailed Luncheon’s dedication to serving the country.
“When I assumed the office of President, some key appointments were made very quickly. Including Roger Luncheon as special advisor. I still have little notes he sent on every issue. And when he couldn’t write, Shaline would call for him to speak to me. And when he didn’t have the energy to do that, I would receive voice messages.”
“That is why every time he requested to see me, I left my office and I went to his office. And we have decided, at the Defence Board, that in his honour, the NISA building will be properly renamed, to recognise his contribution to Guyana and the security of this country,” President Ali said.
According to the President, Dr Luncheon’s dedication to public service was exceptional, and he maintained high standards throughout his career. As a politician, he exhibited a strategic mindset, coupled with unwavering loyalty to both his party and Government.
“His decision to stay clear of the glamour, which was often associated with the famous, wasn’t an act of isolation. It was a conscious choice that he made to stand shoulder to shoulder with those whose lives mirrored his working-class origin,” the President emphasised.
Earlier this year, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Bill was tabled in the National Assembly, before being sent to a parliamentary Special Select Committee in order to get feedback from stakeholders.
At the time of its establishment in 2010, under the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) was named the Central Intelligence Unit (CIU), and there were calls then for there to be legislation to govern this body.
However, in 2015, under the David Granger presidency, this unit was integrated into the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) established by the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, again, without the relevant laws to govern the functioning of this body.
The NISA Bill provides for the creation of an Intelligence Agency that will, among other things, protect Guyana against espionage, terrorism, and sabotage. The agency will also protect against agents within or outside of Guyana, as well as against foreign powers seeking to undermine the State. There is also scope for the agency to collaborate with other foreign agencies in the interest of national security.
The Bill spells out the agency’s functions, which include to “collect information of national intelligence and security interest that provides a basis for decision making and preventative actions; gather, store, process, analyse and disseminate information that is relevant to national intelligence and security; conduct analysis of information of national interest and security interest.”
Additionally, the agency’s functions are to “maintain a national database of information of national intelligence and security; conduct relevant research to enhance efficiency in information management and all matters relating to national intelligence and security; provide national intelligence estimates and intelligence and security advice to the President… provide support to investigations of matters pertaining to threats to national intelligence and security.”
Additionally, the proposed legislations also provide for the President to appoint the Head of NISA. It also caters to the establishment of an Intelligence and Security Committee, which will have oversight over the conduct of NISA.
This committee will have three members appointed by the President. These include a nominee from the President, a nominee from the Opposition Leader after consulting with other Opposition parties in the National Assembly, and a nominee from civil society. (G3)