Guyana is currently hosting regional maritime leaders as the Caribbean Port State Control Conference and CMOU meetings got underway today at the AC Marriott at Ogle on Tuesday.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar said the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding (CMOU) has, for nearly three decades, provided a vital framework for harmonising Port State Control practices and strengthening maritime safety across the region.
He stressed that the system goes beyond technical inspections and standards, and is ultimately about protecting people and supporting trade.
“It is about inspections, standards, compliance, and data. But ultimately, it is also about people. It is about the safety of crews, the protection of passengers, the security of our ports, the preservation of our marine environment, and the confidence that must underpin maritime trade,” he said.
Minister Indar also noted that ports are central to national development, particularly as Guyana continues to experience rapid economic transformation.
“Our ports are more than points of entry and exit. They are gateways to commerce, investment, tourism, food security, energy security, and national development,” he stated.
He added that regional cooperation, training and harmonised standards remain critical as maritime activity continues to grow across the Caribbean.
Additionally, Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond addressing the gathering highlighted the importance of strengthening integrated border and maritime security systems alongside traditional Port State Control functions.
She said maritime security must be viewed within a wider national security framework involving multiple agencies.
“Port State Control must be seen not only as a maritime administration function, but as part of a wider national security ecosystem,” she said.
The minister underscored the role of agencies such as the Immigration Department, the Guyana Police Force and the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) in safeguarding ports and preventing transnational crime.
She also pointed to ongoing efforts to improve coordination and intelligence sharing across the maritime space to enhance overall security and compliance.
The conference brings together regional maritime authorities to discuss vessel safety, inspection regimes, compliance with international maritime conventions, and the future of coordinated maritime governance in the Caribbean.