The United States will continue to work with the Government of Guyana to transform Guyana’s defence and security sector to achieve collective security and regional stability. So said United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, speaking during the commissioning ceremony for the GDFS Shahoud, a 115 Defiant monohull patrol vessel, on Tuesday.
Approximately US$1 million has been approved by the United States Embassy for the maintenance of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard’s vessels, along with ongoing training provided by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Ambassador said “Hand in hand with the private sector, our embassy and SOUTHCOM (Southern Command) will continue to provide subject matter expertise, training, maritime-focused security cooperation, and security assistance opportunities.”
Speaking at the event Chief of Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, revealed discussions were initiated by the U.S. Military Liaison’s Office to facilitate training to operate the GDFS Shahoud. “This is being facilitated through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative platform,” he explained.
Khan emphasised the importance of partnerships for shared development, making known that acquiring the vessel is just one piece of the puzzle. He also shared that Guyana must leverage the training and experience offered by regional partners to enhance its capabilities.
The chief of staff said, “This forms an integral part of enhancing our capacity and consolidating our capability. And I must say, we have been doing just that to the point that our existing partnerships are at their highest peak in the history of our defence relations.”