Dear Editor,
Given the escalation in the conflict with Venezuela, we must as a nation urgently establish a National Security Council (NSC) to ensure that the current threat is given the appropriate attention necessary. We must take into account the perspective of the political parties that are representing their constituencies in Parliament. CRG proposes the following composition of the NSC:
1. His Excellency the President and the Leaders of the 2 Opposition parties in Parliament (APNU + AFC and The Joinder Party)
2. The General Secretaries of each of the three parties. Given that in some cases the General Secretary is also performing the role of the Press Secretary for their respective party, the council should consider having them take turns to brief the press on the outcome of each meeting.
3. The Minister of Home Affairs, the Chief of Defense Staff of the GDF and the National Security Advisor.
4. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Guyana’s representative on the UN Security Council (via video conference).
The NSC should meet on a bi weekly or monthly basis, and as the situation at the border merits an emergency meeting. The press briefing after each council meeting should include a communique of non-confidential information to the Embassies of our Allies and our Embassy in Caracas, if we decide to maintain diplomatic relations with Venezuela.
Sincerely,
Jamil Changlee
Chairman
The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana
