His Excellency President Dr Irfaan Ali unveiled a transformative national security overhaul aimed not only to modernise policing and surveillance, but to secure the population against emerging threats in a rapidly changing world.During a press conference earlier today, the President outlined his Government’s security vision that stretches to 2030 and beyond. High on the agenda is a technologically integrated system that will place Guyana among the most advanced security architectures globally. The plan, he explained, is designed to ensure safety, resilience, and sustainability, while embedding trust between citizens and the institutions that protect them.At the heart of the President’s remarks was a commitment to citizenfocused security. He noted that citizen services and trust in the system will be the ultimate measure of success. Every investment, from smart police stations to AIpowered surveillance, he explained, is geared toward enhancing confidence in law enforcement and reducing administrative burdens that keep officers away from frontline duties.The overhaul rests on seven pillars: technology, intelligence, governance, resilience, citizen services, border security, and cyber defence.According to the President, each pillar is being built to integrate with regional and international systems, which will ensure that Guyana is fully functional in the global security network.By 2030, Guyana’s security infrastructure will include: smart police stations and kiosks nationwide; AIpowered surveillance and predictive crime analytics; more than 25,000 CCTV cameras integrated into traffic and safety systems; a national cyber emergency response team; digital ID cards and biometric immigration systems; unified interagency command centres; and expanded community policing and resilience programmes.Among the most striking innovations is the introduction of smart police stations, which will operate 24/7 without traditional front desks.The President said that citizens will be able to report crime via apps, kiosks or through online portals. AI technology will track the cases and generate files in the shortest time span.The idea is to make services available to all citizens at their convenience.“You go to the mall, small kiosks will be there. Citizens can go and access the kiosks for any support, whether it’s immigration, whether it’s security, whether it’s making a report, whether it’s reporting some lost and found item, anything, whether you need counselling, whether you need support in childcare, because the entire system will be integrated by 2030 to allow this.”President Ali added that artificial intelligence will serve multiple purposes moving forward, including facial recognition, behavioural analytics, automated threat detection, smart surveillance and drone integration.The Safe Country programme, which by 2030 aims to blanket Guyana with more than 25,000 CCTV cameras across 6,700 sites, is a key part of the system. Already, smart traffic cameras have reduced speeding and accidents in pilot areas.In addition to this, the Government will also invest in sensororiented traffic lights, which will adjust timing based on realtime traffic flow, improving efficiency and reducing congestion.AI and cyber security will not only be for the roadways and police stations, but to counter threats and to protect critical infrastructure, including energy, petrochemicals and financial centres.The President described a future where immigration systems are fully digitised. He said that egates, facial recognition, evisas, and AIsupported traveller risk assessments will streamline movement while enhancing security. In addition, advanced passenger information systems will allow authorities to flag persons of interest even before tickets are booked.“This is how advanced and integrated the global system is now, and that is where we are heading.”Despite the advancements, the President acknowledged that technology alone cannot secure Guyana. He said that community policing, antiradicalisation programmes, youth engagement, and stronger families are integral to the plan. Civil society, churches, and clubs will also be enlisted to build trust and resilience.This national security overhaul, according to the President, is not simply an upgrade of systems but an investment in Guyana’s future. It is designed to place the country on equal footing with global players, and on ensuring that citizens are protected by the same advanced standards found in leading nations.