Guyana reaffirmed its commitment to regional security and multilateral cooperation through the participation of two key representatives at the Workshop on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Latin America, held from June 17 to 18, 2025, at the Organization of American States (OAS) Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Representing Guyana at the high-level forum were Ms. Teshanna Cox, Technical Officer at the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Mr. Errol Watts, Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ of the Guyana Police Force. The two-day event, hosted by the OAS Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Jewish Congress (WJC), and the Latin American Jewish Congress (LAJC), convened stakeholders from across the hemisphere to address the growing threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism in the region.

The workshop brought together representatives from OAS member states, international organizations, civil society, academia, and private sector partners to exchange strategies and best practices in identifying, preventing, and countering terrorist threats, including ideologies rooted in xenophobia, racism, and religious intolerance.

Key issues discussed included the nexus between organised crime and terrorism, the misuse of digital technologies by extremist actors, and the importance of public-private partnerships in building resilient and informed communities.

Deputy Commissioner Watts and Ms. Cox actively contributed to discussions on multisectoral collaboration and capacity-building, drawing from Guyana’s experiences and ongoing efforts to fortify national and regional security.

As part of the event, participants also engaged in a guided visit to TikTok’s Washington D.C. offices to gain insights into the platform’s content moderation and digital safety practices, underscoring the pivotal role of tech companies in combatting the spread of violent extremist content online.

Guyana’s participation underscores its unwavering commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism, both at home and across the hemisphere. The knowledge and partnerships forged during this workshop will support ongoing efforts to develop robust, future-ready security policies that safeguard citizens and uphold regional stability.