WATCH | Press conference by President Dr. Irfaan Ali

Key Takeaways

• Venezuela's challenge to the 1899 arbitral award, made 63 years after accepting it, coincided with Guyana's impending independence and a perceived military advantage for Venezuela.
• The 1966 Geneva Agreement provided a framework for resolving the territorial dispute, first through bilateral negotiations and then by referral to the UN Secretary General.
• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) asserted its jurisdiction in December 2020 to settle the long-standing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.
• Guyana insists that Venezuela must respect the ICJ's rulings, warning that non-compliance would violate international law and the UN Charter.
• Guyana is developing a modern, technologically integrated national security system aimed at enhancing interoperability, efficiency, and regional security through global partnerships.
• The new security architecture is people-centric, focusing on citizen services and building trust through initiatives like smart police stations and digital service delivery.
• Artificial intelligence will be a critical component, enabling predictive crime analytics, facial recognition, and automated threat detection to improve response and prevent crime.
• Investments in advanced technology, including digitization, digital IDs, and integrated command centers, are crucial for Guyana to participate effectively in the global security system.