Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 20, 2009 News
– as army fulfils 2008 mandates
The Guyana Defence Force has been able to achieve most of its mandates that were set out for 2008, according to Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best, who addressed officers at the opening of the Guyana Defence Force Annual Officers’ Conference at army headquarters, Camp Ayanganna yesterday.
The theme for the conference is: ‘Re-engineering to enhance national defence and security’.
According to Best, recapitalisation of the army continued with the influx of new equipment to better enable the army to function effectively in keeping with its mandate.
He also noted that the public is now in safe hands following the successful joint operations of the security forces, which led to the elimination of several members of the Rondell Rawlins gang that had wreaked havoc in the society for several years.
However, Best said the army has not stood down its ‘Operation Restore Order’ which was launched last year.
At last year’s officers’ conference the army was given several mandates, most of which have been achieved.
Apart from building stronger relationships with the other security forces, which resulted in more cohesion in terms of intelligence gathering and response, the army has been able to tighten operational costs and still maintain its effectiveness.
In addition, the Guyana Defence Force has been able to advance the formulation of a comprehensive academic programme for its ranks to increase their education level.
Already a diagnostic test for all ranks from corporal down has been completed.
The diagnostic test resembles a secondary school curriculum, and it was designed to get a feel of the level of education of the ranks.
According to Best, while most of the mandates were achieved, there is still work to be done to ensure that the society’s peace and tranquility is enhanced.
To this end, the army plans to improve its relationship with the public, given its recent role in maintaining civilian law enforcement.
Delivering the feature address, Commander in Chief President Bharrat Jagdeo praised the army for its move to enhance the welfare of soldiers when they would have retired.
“I am pleased to hear the report of the Chief of Staff on the programme that you have produced over the past year. I want to commend the Chief of Staff for his leadership of the process, focusing on some of the issues that I raised the last time I addressed you.”
According to the President, the army has some of the smartest persons in the Guyanese society, and they stack up well at the regional level.
“I have seen over the years various attempts to improve the capacity of soldiers to live productive lives after they would have left the force. But this is the first major organised attempt to do this at all levels of the force,” the Commander in Chief said.
According to the Guyanese leader, last year presented many challenges to the army, including internal threats to national security by marauding gangs of gunmen and rising food prices.
This year, he said, brings new challenges, including a worldwide economic crisis which makes last year’s challenges pale in comparison.
He urged the officers to pay careful attention to the economic crisis so that it will inform the approach the organisation makes with the resources available.
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