Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, the Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, has called for urgent reform in Guyana’s defense strategy, criticising the Government for its failure to adequately prioritise the national security needs of the country despite substantial oil revenues. In conversation with this publication on Guyana’s response to Venezuelan escalating aggression, Forde stressed the importance of adequately resourcing the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to safeguard the nation’s borders
While Guyana’s oil sector generates substantial revenue—US$76.1 million per day—Forde argued that the government has failed to properly allocate funds to bolster the military’s capacity to defend the nation. “For a country that receives US$76.1 million dollars per day, our military is beyond under-resourced,” said Forde.
“The flows of revenue from our massive oil reservoirs have not substantially improved our national defense strategy or capacity.” He highlighted a stark discrepancy in the allocation of funds, noting that in 2024, the government budgeted only GY$42.2 billion for the GDF, compared to 200 billion for infrastructure projects. The same trend continued in 2025, with the PPP/C government allocating GY$50.4 billion for the military while dedicating GY$209 billion to infrastructure.
Forde questioned the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s spending priorities, arguing that with the nation’s territorial integrity under threat from external forces—especially from Venezuela—more should be invested in strengthening the military. He noted, “One would imagine that if the territorial integrity of the nation is under continuous threat from external forces, then a meaningful percentage of the revenue derived from that territory would be used to ramp up its preservation and protection.”
The issue of under-resourced defense forces is compounded by Forde’s concerns over the government’s handling of the nation’s far-flung regions, especially in Essequibo. Forde referenced the history of the Guyana National Service (GNS), a national initiative that had been established by the People’s National Congress (PNC) to train young people in various fields, including military service. He suggested that this approach could provide practical solutions to the country’s defense strategy by involving citizens directly in securing the country’s borders.
He told this publication many Guyanese would remember the Guyana National Service (GNS), a clear and very practical aspect of a wider national strategic defense strategy, by the People’s National Congress (PNC) to train our young people in various fields including military, engineering, and agriculture. “It created opportunities for our people to develop those areas in outlying regions, take ownership, and responsibility for the protection of those areas.”
The Shadow Attorney General also expressed concern over the government’s reliance on foreign assistance to defend the nation’s borders, an approach he deemed “unwise” in the context of shifting geopolitical dynamics. He asserted that Guyana could not afford to depend solely on international actors, especially given the changing political landscape, particularly in relation to the United States’ perceived transactional approach to global issues.
Forde also criticised the government’s approach to land distribution, pointing out that many soldiers, who serve to protect the nation, do not own land. At the same time, the government has distributed large swaths of prime land to political cronies and foreign investors. “It is disheartening to see the PPP/C government giving large swaths of choice lands to cronies, friends of the political elite, and foreign businesses and corporations,” he said. “However, they will not be at our borders; our soldiers would be there.”
He also raised concerns about the difficulties ordinary Guyanese face in acquiring land. Despite the country’s vast landmass of 83,000 square miles, Forde contended that it remains exceedingly difficult for average citizens to obtain land due to bureaucratic delays, high costs, and long waiting times.
His statement comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions with Venezuela, which has continued to provoke Guyana over the territorial controversy. Despite the 1899 Arbitral Award demarcating the border, Venezuela has carried out multiple incursions into Guyana’s waters, including intercepting Guyanese fishing vessels and detaining foreign vessels exploring for oil in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Recent incidents, such as Venezuelan military construction on Guyanese soil and drone overflights of GDF bases, have raised alarms over the country’s preparedness to respond to such threats. Forde criticised the government for its reactive rather than proactive approach, highlighting the absence of dedicated armed coastguard vessels to patrol Guyana’s offshore waters.
Unity in the face of external threats is another point of concern for Forde. Despite calls for national unity, particularly in response to the Venezuelan threat, he lamented the ongoing political division in the country. He argued that the PPP/C’s exclusionary political practices have hindered efforts at forging a united front.
Forde concluded by urging the government to develop a more proactive and cohesive defense strategy to ensure the security and sovereignty of Guyana. He stressed that national unity, combined with a stronger defense posture, would be essential in protecting the country from external aggression, particularly in the context of Guyana’s ongoing territorial controversy with Venezuela.
