NISA to launch real-time public safety alert system

The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) will soon be implementing a national alert system that sends real-time updates to citizens regarding emergencies such as missing children, natural disasters, security threats, or major accidents.
This was disclosed by Director of NISA Colonel Sheldon Howell during this week’s ‘Safeguarding the Nation’ programme produced by the Government.
“We’ve upgraded the response mechanism to missing persons, especially children. And soon enough as well, we’ll have a national alert system that sends [real] time information to your phones, TVs, radios, and social media platforms,” he noted.
In response to questions from this publication, it was further explained that the system is part of a broader integrated platform that is being reinforced under Guyana’s National Security Architecture.
The alerts will be issued as quickly as possible once an incident occurs so that people receive timely and accurate updates and guidance.
Once completed, more information will be shared with the public at the appropriate time.
Similar systems are in effect in many countries, including Canada and the United States of America, which have the National Public Alerting System (NPAS) and the Emergency Alert System, respectively. These systems allow authorised officials to broadcast emergency messages to citizens via cable, satellite and broadcast television and radio.