The National Defence Institute (NDI), with the support of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), has officially launched its inaugural Certificate in Defence Studies Programme, marking a significant step in advancing professional military education and strengthening Guyana’s national security framework.
The opening ceremony, held at Base Camp Ayanganna, brought together senior government officials, representatives of the Joint Services, and key stakeholders, reflecting a coordinated national effort, guided by President and Commander-in-Chief His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to enhance the country’s security architecture.
Delivering the feature address on behalf of the President, Honourable Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, MSS, emphasised the need to build strategic capacity across the security sector in response to an increasingly complex global and regional environment. He noted that contemporary threats extend beyond conventional warfare to include cybercrime, transnational organised crime, climate-related vulnerabilities, and broader human security concerns, requiring a comprehensive and integrated approach to national defence.
The Prime Minister further highlighted that the programme represents a deliberate investment in human capital, aimed at developing strategic thinkers capable of informed decision-making across multiple domains, including land, maritime, air, and cyber. He underscored the role of the National Defence Institute as a hub for knowledge production, policy development, and inter-agency collaboration, noting that such integration is essential to strengthening institutional effectiveness and national resilience.
Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, in his remarks, framed the programme as a critical investment in the intellectual foundation of national security. He emphasised that strategy is rooted in thought, perspective, and the ability to anticipate future challenges, noting that the strength of any nation ultimately lies in the quality of the minds that guide its decisions.
Brigadier Khan further underscored that strategy must be treated as a continuous process, embedded in professional education, operational planning, and leadership development. He highlighted the role of the National Defence Institute in shaping strategic thinking, describing it as a platform where ideas are tested, refined, and translated into effective leadership and national planning. Participants were encouraged to approach the programme as a transformative experience that will enhance their decision-making, leadership, and service to the nation.
Chairman of the NDI Advisory Board, Colonel Sheldon Howell, MSM, outlined the strategic intent behind the programme, noting that it is designed to bridge critical gaps in higher-level security education through a civil-military approach to teaching and learning. He emphasised that the Institute has rapidly transitioned from concept to capability, establishing governance structures, academic frameworks, and a modern learning environment to support its inaugural offering.
Colonel Howell further highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that the Institute has cultivated partnerships with regional and international academic and security institutions while strengthening integration among local agencies. This approach, he explained, is central to enhancing coordination, strengthening national resilience, and positioning Guyana as an active contributor to regional and international security discourse.
Looking ahead, he outlined the Institute’s ambition to evolve into a centre of excellence in defence and security studies, advancing research, supporting policy development, and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into strategic thinking and national planning.
In his remarks, Deputy Director of the National Defence Institute, Dr Seon Levius, highlighted that the Certificate in Defence Studies Programme is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening analytical capacity and leadership across the Joint Services. He noted that the programme equips participants with the skills required to assess and respond to evolving national security challenges.
Dr Levius further emphasised its practical relevance, noting that it fosters critical thinking and informed decision-making. He underscored that national security ultimately depends on the quality of leadership, positioning the programme as a key investment in Guyana’s future.
The sixteen-week programme, which commenced on January 20, 2026, brings together thirteen participants drawn from the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service, and Guyana Fire Service, reinforcing an integrated national security framework.
Delivered primarily through asynchronous learning, supported by guided engagement, the curriculum includes core modules in Strategic Studies, Human Security, Foreign Policy Analysis, Team Leadership, and Security Process Analysis. These areas are designed to enhance participants’ ability to analyse risks, apply adaptive leadership strategies, and develop informed responses to contemporary and emerging security challenges.
From a Guyana Defence Force perspective, the programme reinforces the Force’s role in training, capacity building, and inter-agency integration, ensuring that members of the Joint Services are better prepared to operate within a coordinated and strategically informed framework.
The launch of the Certificate in Defence Studies Programme therefore represents not only the introduction of a new academic offering, but a strategic step towards institutionalising higher-level security education in Guyana, strengthening national resilience, and positioning the country to respond effectively to current and future security challenges.
Also in attendance at the Opening ceremony were Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Honourable Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Home Affairs, Honourable Oneidge Walrond; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia, AA; Director of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, Mr James Singh, Commissioner of Police , Clifton Hicken, Chief Fire Officer, Mr Gregory Wickham, Director of Prisons (ag) Mr Nicklon Elliot, members of the Central Management Committee (CMC) of the Guyana Defence Force, along with other senior officers of the Joint Services and other key stakeholders.
