Dear Editor,
I have read with growing concern a series of statements in the national press attributed to the National Security Advisor to His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali. If this is the quality of counsel being offered to the Head of State, then Guyana finds itself in a perilous position indeed.
The defensive posture adopted by Mr. Gerry Gouveia regarding the recent seizure of 33 AK-47s is not merely inadequate; it is dangerously complacent. Mr. Gouveia would have us believe that the recovery of these weapons is evidence of a vigilant and proactive security apparatus. This is a convenient narrative, but it collapses under the weight of analytical scrutiny.
I have also read the Editorial from the Kiskadee Watch Newspaper of June 18, 2026 which was spot on.
Let me be clear: the weapons were already in the country when they were discovered. They had crossed our borders and were discovered deep within densely populated areas—in Schoonord and on the Corentyne. The uncomfortable truth, which Mr. Gouveia seems determined to evade, is that our border security is reactive rather than proactive.
As former Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe rightly observed, if these were truly “intelligence-led operations,” then where was the intelligence when these shipments crossed into our territory? Why were they not intercepted at the point of entry? Are there more in other safe houses in Guyana?
The suggestion that these 33 “AK-47” rifles represent isolated incidents is not merely naïve; it is reckless. We (the Guyanese people and security establishment) have no way of knowing how many similar shipments have entered undetected. At this point the entire system under Mr. Gouveia is reacting. Too late shall be the call!
The Schoonord seizure has clear Venezuelan links, but we must ask: what kind of Venezuelan link? Is this state-sponsored activity or the work of illegal narco-trafficking networks? The evidence increasingly points to the latter.
Recent U.S. Southern Command strikes against “Tren de Aragua” bases in Venezuela, combined with Venezuelan military operations against illegal mining linked to these narco-trafficking networks, have created significant operational disruption for these criminal organisations. Like any enterprise facing pressure, they are seeking out the weakest links nearby, and the two weakest links are Guyana and Suriname, where security administrations have been found wanting.
For emphasis, let me restate – the “Tren de Aragua” and the “Sindicatos” are in Guyana. One only has to visit the Cuyuni Region and you will see how they openly operate in our country.
It is time for President Ali to look beyond Mr. Gouveia’s counsel and seek direct, independent, and confidential assistance from the U.S. Southern Command. The opening of a U.S. base in the North West District would bring independent, non-bribable officials (individuals with no local entanglements) who can deliver superior intelligence, greater professionalism, and enhanced training to the frontlines of this battle.
It is imperative that a special task force be urgently formed, led by a group of mid-level GDF officers and a select number of police officers, who can liaise directly with American counterparts to root out this Venezuelan criminal enterprise from our soil. All intelligence points to the conclusion that this is not the Venezuelan government—that is a red herring. This is a network of narco-criminals with Colombian and Venezuelan links who are now fleeing DEA and CIA operations in Venezuela and expanding into new territory. Guyana is simply the weakest link in the chain.
What is clear is that our current approach is failing. We cannot continue to rely on assurances that ring hollow while the threat deepens. We cannot afford to have our National Security Advisor frame “systemic failure” as “operational success”. We deserve leadership that acknowledges our vulnerabilities, invests in genuine border security, and pursues the networks that are exploiting our nation with the urgency this moment demands.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Prashad
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