A unit of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will continue to provide additional security to the United States Mission here.
A release from the Ministry of Home Affairs said that the GPF and the United States Mission to Guyana inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday that will see the GPF’s Liaison Unit providing supplemental security services to the US Mission.
The MoU was signed by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, and US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, at the ministry’s boardroom in Brickdam, Georgetown.
The ceremony was also attended by Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ Calvin Brutus, Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Ravindradat Budhram, DEA Attaché Chris Smith, Regional Security Officer, Mayan Shih, and Assistant Regional Security Officer, Chester Maloney.
Reviewed annually, the MoU, establishes the terms under which the GPF Police Liaison Unit at the United States Mission, which includes perimeter security for the US Mission, US Mission properties, the US Ambassador’s Residence, and a Protective Security Detail for the US Ambassador (collectively the Mission Unit), will provide security services, the release noted.
The government in acknowledgement of its responsibilities under the MoU stated: “The Government of Guyana (GoG) recognises its responsibilities under international law, as reflected in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the U.S. diplomatic mission and to prevent any attack on US diplomats or their family members.”
The release also pointed out that the security detail’s high professionalism and work ethic were noted by Ambassador Lynch, who also conveyed her appreciation for the job they are performing.
