– says “safety and security of our country” is priority
– calls for stability, democratic transition in Venezuela
– PM assures citizens “Guyana is secured and prepared”
– GDF leads engagements at border locations, military bases nationwide
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in Guyana, President Dr Irfaan Ali, is assuring Guyanese that the country’s security mechanisms are fully mobilised and monitoring developments in neighbouring Venezuela, where the United States military on Saturday captured leader Nicolás Maduro.
The early morning operation saw US troops removing the Venezuelan dictator and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their home on a military base in downtown Caracas and transporting them to New York to face indictments on multiple criminal charges, including “narco-terrorism”.
As news unfolded about the operation, President Ali met with the Defence Board, the National Security architecture, regional commanders, and other senior security officials early Saturday morning at State House in Georgetown to discuss the ongoing situation in Venezuela.
During the high-level meeting, the Commander-in-Chief was joined by Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond and former Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who is serving as an advisor to the ministry.
Also in attendance were heads of the various Joint Services agencies, including the Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan; Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Clifton Hicken; and Head of the Guyana Fire Service, Gregory Wickham. Director of Guyana’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Colonel Sheldon Howell, was also part of the meeting along with other senior security officials.
Following the meeting, President Ali subsequently stated that the local security forces are monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country.
“We have been monitoring the situation [in] Venezuela all morning… The Defence Board, the leadership of the GDF and our security forces are fully mobilised in accordance with our security plans,” the Commander-in-Chief assured in a post on social media platform X on Saturday morning.
According to the Head of State, citizens should be reassured that the Government is working to ensure their safety and security.
“The priority is the safety and security of our country,” President Ali declared.
In fact, similar assurances were given by Brigadier Khan. The Army Chief told the Guyana Times on Saturday evening that the GDF remains vigilant in light of the developments in bordering Venezuela.
“Our troops remain alert, confident and motivated,” Brigadier Khan indicated.
Stability and democratic transition
Moreover, President Ali had further indicated on Saturday morning that he has also spoken to the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr Carla Barnett, regarding the situation in Venezuela. In fact, the Guyana Times was told that President Ali was a part of an emergency meeting among regional leaders on Saturday morning.
CARICOM had issued a brief statement that morning, saying that it is “…actively monitoring the situation [in Venezuela], which is of grave concern to the region with possible implications for neighbouring countries.”
However, the regional bloc in a subsequent statement later Saturday called for stability, good governance and the restoration of democracy in Venezuela as well as the maintenance of peace and security in the region – sentiments that President Ali also shared.
This was after President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier in the day that the US will run Venezuela until a proper transition can take place.
According to the US President, “We want peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela, and that includes many from Venezuela that are now living in the United States and want to go back to their country. It’s their homeland. We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind… We’re not going to let that happen… We’re there now. And what people don’t understand…we’re going to stay until such time as the proper transition can take place.”
Trump had also announced during his press conference that Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, was sworn in as interim President and has agreed to work with the US in running the country.
In another statement on Saturday evening, President Ali welcomed the leadership of the US President in reaffirming shared commitments to freedom, democracy, and regional security.
“We look forward to constructive engagement in Venezuela’s next chapter in the interest of all Venezuelans,” the Guyanese leader stated, adding that his Government continues to monitor the developments in Caracas.
Ali went on to note that “stability, respect for law, and democratic transition are critical to the future of Venezuela and the broader Americas. In this regard, Guyana supports efforts that uphold democratic norms and ensure that the region remains a Zone of Peace.”
Engagements at border communities
Meanwhile, following the security meeting at State House on Saturday morning, PM Phillips travelled to Region One (Barima-Waini) to engage GDF troops and Police ranks stationed in communities along the border with Venezuela as part of the Government’s immediate response to the evolving situation in Caracas.
Over the years, the Spanish-speaking nation has deployed a number of aggressive tactics against Guyana, including as recently as last year, as it continues to lay spurious claims to the entire Essequibo region and a portion of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where successful oil operations are ongoing offshore by US-based oil giant ExxonMobil and its partners – overall more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass.
PM Phillips’ visit to Region One formed part of a series of routine leadership engagements led by the GDF across border locations and military bases nationwide. According to the Guyanese army, these engagements are consistent with its standing responsibilities and ongoing commitment to national security and operational readiness.
Joining the PM on these visits were Colonel General Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ravindradat Budhram; and the Regional Chairman of Region One, Brentnol Ashley. They visited several border locations, during which they held meetings between commanders and troops across all bases.
According to the GDF, “Such engagements form part of standard command oversight and are intended to assess readiness, engage directly with ranks, and ensure that established operational, welfare, and professional standards continue to be upheld throughout the Force.”
The army assured that it continues to operate in a calm, disciplined, and measured manner, fully aligned with national policy and Guyana’s longstanding commitment to peace, stability, and lawful processes.
“The Guyana Defence Force remains vigilant and prepared to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities to safeguard Guyana’s territorial integrity while supporting efforts and decisions taken at the national level. The Guyana Defence Force reassures all Guyanese that these activities reflect routine leadership engagement and responsible military management, as the Force continues to serve the nation with professionalism and resolve,” the GDF missive detailed.
High state of readiness
Meanwhile, during his engagements, PM Phillips assured residents of the bordering communities that the country remains secure and on high alert.
“Our foremost concern is ensuring that the instability in Venezuela does not spill over into Guyana. Let me be clear, our Joint Services are on a high state of readiness, deployed across the borders, hinterland and coastline, and are prepared to deal with any eventuality,” the PM said while speaking on Radio Mabaruma, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).
PM Phillips, a former army chief, emphasised that the Guyana Government is acting decisively to maintain national stability and public confidence, particularly in frontier regions.
The outreach of the PM underscores what he described as a whole-of-Government and joint-services approach to national security.
During the engagement, security ranks were formally briefed on the developments that occurred overnight, with clear instructions issued for heightened vigilance, intelligence sharing, and continued joint operations.
The PM also reassured residents of Mabaruma and surrounding communities that the People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPP/C) Government, under the leadership of President Ali, is closely monitoring developments and remains in contact with its regional and international partners.
Authorities have urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant and to report any unusual activity to the relevant security or community leaders, as Guyana maintains a proactive security posture.
Meanwhile, the minority parliamentary opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), in a statement on Saturday, said Guyana must be prepared for any eventuality, including the potential movement of displaced persons seeking refuge.
In the early morning operation on Saturday, the US Army conducted a “large-scale strike” in Caracas during which they captured Maduro and his wife – both of whom are indicted in the Southern District of New York on multiple criminal charges, including “narco-terrorism” – from their downtown Caracas compound.
Senior US military officials say the aerial attacks disabled Venezuela’s air defence systems, thus providing cover for US helicopters heading towards the compound. Maduro and his wife were detained and flown out to the US warship, USS Iwo Jima, off the Venezuelan coast. They were then transported to New York to face prosecution by the Justice Department.
A Justice Department official says Maduro is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday, according to international reports.
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