Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Robeson Benn M.P and Guyana Defence Force Chief-of-Staff (ag) Brigadier Godfrey Bess are attending the Strategic Level Defence Conference in Brasilia, Brazil.

The conference, which opened on July 25, 2022, will run until July 29, 2022.

The officials are attending the high-level strategic Conference of Ministers of Defence of the Americas (CMDA) at the invitation of Brazil’s Minister of Defence, General Paulo Sergio, who is also presiding over the event.

Ministers of Defence, Commanders of Armed Forces, Chiefs of Defence Staff and Ambassadors are heading the delegations of twenty-one countries from the Americas and the Caribbean.

In declaring the conference open, General Paulo Sergio stressed the importance of good diplomatic relations, military cooperation and the preservation of good democratic norms, which underscore membership of the CMDA.

An exhibition of Brazil’s indigenous defence products, inclusive but not limited to armaments, aircraft and naval vessels, is on display. Minister Benn conveyed the sincere wishes of Guyana’s President H.E Mohamed Irfaan Ali to the host country Brazil and the delegations for the success of the conference.

The Guyana delegation took the opportunity to meet with the Secretary of Defence of the United States of America, Lloyd. J Austin III and Minister of Defence of Canada, Anita Anand, along with other heads of delegations and officials in attendance.

The Guyanese delegation will continue to pursue discussions with Defence Chiefs of The United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Haiti, Belize, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, amongst others, to deepen ties and seek opportunities for improving regional cooperation and support on matters of defence and security of particular interest to Guyana.