In a landmark step to boost its digital defenses amid a rapidly expanding national digital transformation, Guyana has formally joined the Latin America and Caribbean Cyber Competence Centre (LAC4), an EU-backed regional cybersecurity initiative, the country’s Department of Public Information (DPI) confirmed in an official statement released Thursday.
The accession agreement was signed during a ceremony held Thursday at the Office of the Prime Minister in Georgetown, marking Guyana’s transition from a collaborating partner to the 19th full participating nation of the organization. Funded by the European Union and launched in 2022, LAC4 operates as a regional cybersecurity hub based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and is implemented by Estonia’s Information System Authority and CyberNet.
Through full membership, Guyana will unlock unprecedented access to the centre’s cutting-edge cybersecurity infrastructure, including a hybrid training facility, a fully equipped digital forensic laboratory, and a dynamic cyber range that hosts hands-on simulations and practical exercises. These resources are designed to directly enhance the country’s ability to prepare for and respond to complex cyber threats.
Beyond infrastructure access, the partnership will drive comprehensive capacity building across technical, policy, and strategic levels, equipping both Guyanese cybersecurity professionals and public institutions with the specialized skills needed to counter evolving digital risks. Guyana will also gain eligibility for cross-border research collaborations, coordinated cyber threat analysis, joint cybersecurity doctrine development, collective lessons-learned initiatives, and expanded access to additional European Union cybersecurity training programs.
Addressing attendees at the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips emphasized that the Guyanese government identifies cybersecurity as a foundational national priority that supports all areas of national development, effective governance, and the country’s ongoing digital transformation agenda. “As our nation continues to embrace technology and expand digital services, we recognise that this progress must be supported by strong cyber resilience and effective risk management,” Phillips said in the official DPI briefing.
He added that full LAC4 membership represents a transformative opportunity to advance Guyana’s national cybersecurity goals while deepening collaborative ties with regional and international partners. “Today, we are pleased once again to formalise these cooperation arrangements by joining 18 other participating countries and institutions from across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe in this important initiative,” Phillips noted, adding that Guyana is eager to contribute its own expertise, build its domestic capabilities, and work closely with member states to tackle emerging cybersecurity challenges.
LAC4 head Leonardo Daniel Ortega Prudencio formally welcomed Guyana to the centre, framing the accession as a natural progression of a collaborative partnership that first launched in 2022. Prior to full membership, Ortega Prudencio explained, Guyana had already participated in more than 120 LAC4 activities, exercises, and seminars, working hand-in-hand with centre experts to advance key national cybersecurity projects including the drafting of Guyana’s National Cyber Emergency Response Plan and the completion of national cybersecurity risk assessments.
“By stepping into LAC4 as a member today, Guyana gains a seat at the table of one of the biggest cybersecurity groups to shape governance and tailor our work plans to align directly with your national priorities,” Ortega Prudencio said.
Christopher Deen, General Manager of Guyana’s National Data Management Authority (NDMA), noted that the country’s national cybersecurity strategy is focused on four core pillars: expanding public awareness, investing in modern defensive capabilities, strengthening national cyber defenses, and improving incident preparedness across all public sector agencies. Guyana’s full LAC4 membership, he confirmed, aligns directly with these national priorities and will strengthen the country’s entire cybersecurity ecosystem.
European Union Ambassador to Guyana Luca Pierantoni also attended the signing ceremony to mark the new milestone in the partnership between Guyana, the European Union, and the regional cybersecurity centre.