-several ranks turn themselves in
The army’s campaign to target absent without leave (AWOL) ranks has seen several turning themselves in and a number of them have since been court-martialled and sentenced, Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best says.
Some ranks are serving their sentences in the army detention centre at Base Camp Ayanganna. However, Best said many of them would soon be transferred to the state prison since the army facility is for ranks facing disciplinary action while still in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
Last year, over 78 soldiers went AWOL. The GDF then published their names and photographs in the daily newspapers; asking them to report to the nearest military installation or police station. Many soldiers who absconded had sought employment in the informal and other work sectors.
Best told Stabroek News last week that generally, the deserters’ rate is too high and even when some ranks re-enter the service they do not stay for long. “Some soldiers who are AWOL have been picked up and court-martialled and some have turned themselves in and have been court-martialled and given various sentences,” Best said.
The Defence Act stipulates that “every person subject to military law under this act who absents himself without leave; or persuades or procures any person subject to service law to absent himself without leave shall on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for two years or any less punishment provided by the act.”
Asked whether it has been the case that deserters had asked to be Struck off Strength (SOS) and this was not granted, Best said ranks have always used that explanation. “It has always been an excuse, which has not always proven to be true,” he said, explaining that if a soldier asked to be SOS before the statutory three years it cannot be granted. “They know this from the very moment they join the army,” he added.
On the question of what form of redress was available should a soldier’s request to be struck off strength not be granted, Best explained that the soldier could go to the defence board.
He explained that 99.9% of the time, once an officer is not contracted to the army, if he asks to leave his request is granted. Proper procedure would have to be applied in these instances, he added, including giving enough notice.
Gary Best
According to him, so far deserters have had no negative effect on the army neither had there been any effect on recruitment numbers.
AWOL officers face standard disciplinary action which involves court-martial and sentencing once found guilty of deliberate desertion which is an offence. Best explained too that in instances where the army sponsors ranks to pursue studies overseas in the hope that the new knowledge benefits the institution it would be a disadvantage if that officer, even before the time of his agreed engagement, asks to be SOS. “It’s like if the army trains a rank to be a pilot and other specialized training after some years you can’t decide that you want to go,” he said. The Chief of Staff also said granting the SOS request was a matter of discretion.
In March, a former soldier was taken from his place of work by three men in civilian clothing who told his family that he was needed for army business. Subsequent efforts to locate him at Camp Ayanganna had failed. The army later issued a press release stating that it had detained the man in keeping with regulations governing soldiers who are deserters.
The man’s family had raised concerns about the way he was apprehended, sparking widespread speculation about why many persons were absconding from the military without proper notification.
Questioned about this, Best said there was nothing unprofessional or improper about it. He said it was part of the powers of the military.
“When a soldier is absent it’s like as though a GDF arrest warrant is always out there for him, because he is a deserter. There’s no inconvenient stage in the process,” he said.
He added that the soldier would have to prove his innocence.
“If a deserter is going to get married we can arrest him in the church, either after or before he gets married,” he said.
Best urged that soldiers who have deserted report to any military base but said he could not promise that they would be spared due procedure.
He pointed out that though there has been amnesty in the past for absconders it was something he would not promise, at least not at this point. “We’re not thinking amnesty right now,” he said.
When the question about the army’s modus operandi in recapturing deserters was posed to Defence Board Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon last week, he had told this newspaper that he would prefer not to comment. He then said that as far as he knew the campaign to recapture deserters was successful.
Any member of the GDF who stays away from work for more than 21 days without any known reason is considered AWOL and could be subject to disciplinary action.
Waste of time commenting on this…here is an extraction from the XDGF Association of Guyana Newsletter
Potr of Cook-Up
During the past 4 months, thirteen ex-soldiers died, these included Margaret Chase,Jennifer Gordon,Naurice Crandon and Gerald Lindore among others. Margret Chase was a destitute living with her unemployed daughter and six grand children. Crandon pushed a cart for vendors at Bourda Green.
On the occasion of the death of Chase the funeral was put off on two occasions by Sandy’s Funeral Par;our because her family was unable to pay the costs.
Her family after not knowing where to go was told to approach the XGDF Association of Guyana for help. This was done. This is great credit to an organization formed less than a year ago. Our staff contacted the GDF Welfare Dept. for assistance and was greeted with the news that all that could be provided was a pot of cook-up rice for one night’s wake. (Real help and encouragement for an original WAC).
Sandhurst,thanks for that piece of info,what you have reprinted is sad,but that is nt a reflection of all past army personnel.
Every one who joins the army are well aware of the rules if you dont like it stay through your time then follow the procedures to be released but hope to god they don,t send you on any course as you will have to fulfil,the extension of ya time.
I feel there is a lot more that can be done for former soldiers that has not yet be tapped by the army command,yes the officers corps may have better expectations on leaving,but what of the junior ranks.They enter the army with basic education,social skills that can be learned are not always appreciated by most of them.On leaving they are either employed as security guards or have to resort to menial labourer status,or worse crime.
I say once they desert capture them and punish them but please do it with dignity to the families,let the officers who have to do so wear official uniforms so the citizinery knows they were not kidnapped by bandits as most would feel.
Someone once said that soldiers are like cigarettes.You use them, and when they come to the end , you discard the butt, and often stomp on it.
I remembered at one time, in the Army I serve in, if a soldier died while serving, and the family opted for a private and not a military funeral, the Army would provide generously give to that family 5 Pounds and a national flag.
the army is responsible for it’s members and the causes of the desertions are the fault of the higher ranks who only focus on their carrer and not the standards of how the soldiers are treated, i am aware of the people in the higher ranks and can give a history of their behaviors when they were lesser ranks imagine them now. mr. BEST live up to your appointment and do as your name signifies, soldiers should not be place in civil prisons it only signifies that the service men are as an ordinary criminal and it sends a wrong precedence to fellow soldiers and the observing public. remember that a soldier is a citizen who was honorable enough to serve his country before he decided to awol. what should be investigated is the reason the soldiers go absent and effort should be put in place to minimize this action in a more understanding way. be wise if you want to be a leader otherwise your leadership will go for naught.
Good luck catching those who are tired of eating pig swill.