Guatemala Security
Summary and highlights of the 21st Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum | March 6-8, 2022
The 21st Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum, hosted by President Alejandro Giammattei and National Congress President Shirley Rivera, took place in Guatemala City, Guatemala March 6-8, 2022. Ramro Global attended the three day event by special invitation from Mr. Daniel Martinez, an attorney from Houston and retired Foreign Service Officer with previous diplomatic experience in the region. Mr. Martinez is also a member of the Ramro Global Advisory Council.
The timely international security forum titled, “Corruption and Transnational Organized Crime: Threats to Social and Economic Prosperity,” brought together global parliamentarians, experts and leading voices from 40+ countries, covering global hot topics: from illicit financing, narcotics and human trafficking to cyber security threats, crypto currency and 5G challenges.
Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei addressing the 21st Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum at the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala | Photo: Jordan Campbell
While this Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) was primarily focused on the challenges facing Guatemala and the Americas, virtually every presentation opened with outspoken condemnation of Russia’s invasion of the sovereign state of Ukraine and raised grave concerns about the stability of eastern Europe; drawing conversation about the role of NATO, the European Union and the United States as the conflict escalates.
Congressman Robert Pittenger, PI-SF’s Founder opened the forum on the floor of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. His top line remarks on Ukraine and global security were followed up later with a call-to-action reaffirming PI-SF’s commitment to enforcing the Charter of the United Nations and assisting or actively prosecuting any human rights violations and the crimes against humanity.
Congressman Pittenger’s remarks were followed by a passionate speech by President Alejandro Giammattei. “The world is living through dark times,” explained President Giammattei. “We [Guatemala] totally reject the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Countries have the right to protect their integrity and sovereignty,” he added emphatically on parliamentary podium.
Highlights of the forum included the underreported subject of human trafficking by Ms. Anne Basham, a human rights advocate, CEO and Founder of Ascending Consulting who took the floor with a powerful and educational sermon about women’s issues with supporting data. Ms. Basham’s highly informative presentation was followed by a commanding speech on human trafficking from Hon. Rosi Orozco, an outspoken human rights activist and former Member of Parliament, Mexico.
Human rights activist, Hon Rosi Orozco, a former Member of Mexico’s Parliament speaking on the floor of the Guatemalan National Congress about human trafficking | Photo: Jordan Campbell
Mr. Joseph Humire, Executive Director, Center for a Secure Free Society also took the floor. In addition to citing the situation in Ukraine, Mr. Humire spoke about the challenges facing Colombia on the Venezuelan border, calling out various transnational actors, most notably from Russia and Iran. Mr. Humire’s CSFS film series “Border Wars” on YouTube covers Colombia’s complex border issues and is also the subject of a new podcast.
Straddling both days was a lofty panel discussion: Criminal Organizations & Motivations, Current Threat Vectors and Government Regulations which was moderated by Mr. Gregory Sim, the Founder of 2020 Partners and sponsor of the PI-SF in Guatemala. Mr. Sim facilitated discussions with various security experts including Mr. Art Cummings, a Former Executive Assistant Director, National Security Branch, U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations who also spoke authoritatively about various cyber threats and challenges we are facing. Day 1 concluded with a dinner reception at the Guatemalan National Palace hosted by President Alejandro Giammattei (images below).
On Day 2 Hon. Jessica Reiner, Managing Director, Digital Finance at the Institute for International Finance and former Senior Counselor, U.S. Department of Treasury, gave the forum a top-line, educational presentation about stable coins and CBDCs. Ms. Reiner unpacked with great insight the unforeseen consequences of cryptocurrency as a central bank digital currency (images below).
Dr. Sohan Dasgupta, Former Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Department of Homeland Security gave a passionate closing formal address on National Security and International Trade and suggested the free world “should unite to address issues of 5G, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence” and further suggested that across the next decade this technological and economic revolution will “unfold staggeringly.”
Dr. Sohan Dasgupta’s formal address to PI-SF at the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala | Photo: Jordan Campbell
Dr. Dasgupta closed the PI-SF event by stating: “May the Free World know peace, prosperity, stability, and unity. This is a time for true visionaries and leaders to step up to the mark. And may we all be worthy of the highest and noblest aspirations of our Peoples.”
Jordan Campbell is the CEO & Executive Producer at Ramro Global. He and Ramro Global Advisor, Daniel Martinez participated in the 21st Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum, March 6-8, 2022.