The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is set to launch a specialized Oil and Gas Unit in 2025, enhancing its capacity to manage security in the country’s rapidly expanding petroleum sector.
Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken announced the initiative during the Force’s annual awards ceremony on December 12, while highlighting the unit’s long-term role in safeguarding critical infrastructure while fostering law enforcement resilience and innovation.
“We’ve been discussing this for about a year and a half, and we are determined to have it operational by 2025… These challenges test our resilience and integrity but also create opportunities for innovation and adaptation,” Hicken stated. The Oil and Gas Unit will address industry-specific safety, security, and regulatory compliance challenges.
“We are an oil and gas developing nation, so we are going to establish a tactical unit to respond to industry-related incidents,” Hicken explained.
The move aligns with broader national security reforms, including decentralizing police services and modernizing the GPF’s operational structure.
As part of these reforms, the top police official said the GPF will be rebranded as the Guyana Police Service by 2025. Hicken stressed that the name change reflects the Force’s evolving role in delivering better services nationwide.
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Additionally, plans include establishing a state-of-the-art police academy to strengthen law enforcement training. Hicken acknowledged current facility limitations and underscored the academy’s role in enhancing evidence-based policing and fostering multi-agency crime-fighting initiatives.
“Our goal is to enhance services across the regions and ensure that we support Guyana’s growing industries effectively,” he added.
Since oil production began in December 2019, Guyana has generated over US$5.4 billion in oil revenues and royalties, fuelling massive economic growth. More than 6,000 Guyanese now support ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block operations.
The oil boom has made Guyana the fastest-growing economy in the world. Beyond direct revenue, the country has benefited from local content development and increased investments in several sectors, driven by the oil and gas industry’s expansion.
Hicken pointed out that as Guyana navigates its new economic reality, the establishment of an Oil and Gas Unit is in keeping with the administration’s proactive approach to securing the nation’s future while adapting to its evolving role as a global energy player.
