In an agreement that comes into effect on Monday, Guyana and the United States have teamed up to help stomp out the trade of illicit drugs. 

The development was announced on Friday, following talks between Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali and US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

The “Bilateral Shiprider Agreement” will see joint patrols of Guyana air and maritime space in increased efforts to fight the narcotics trade.

It’s a development which President Ali is hopeful will beef up his country’s security.

“I am also pleased to announce that Guyana and the US will deepen cooperation in the area of security, with specific attention to maritime security and joint patrols, to interdict narcotics trafficking. This will also allow us to improve our technical and human capabilities in monitoring Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone. This augurs well for stronger collaboration and broader technical assistance to help combat both domestic and transnational organised criminal networks”, President Ali said.

While the agreement allows the US to conduct patrols in Guyana’s waters and airspace, it stipulates that permission must first be granted by the Guyanese government. 

Secretary Pompeo said the security agreement will work to create a more secured Guyana and Caribbean region.

“Our new security agreement to counter narcotics trafficking that has decimated so many nations around the world will come into force on Monday. American law enforcement can now cooperate against traffickers at sea and this will make the entire region and Guyana even safer”,  he said.