Deployment of soldiers at Summit of Americas approved

Parliament has approved the deployment of army personnel to support the security detail during the Fifth Summit of Americas in Trinidad next month.

In a motion passed last Thursday the Assembly honoured the government’s pledge to deploy Guyana Defence Force military personnel on a security support mission for a period of approximately two months. The management and operation of the troops is in accordance with the Visiting Forces Act 2007 of Guyana, the Visiting Forces Act of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Treaty of Security Assistance among Caricom Member States.

The motion, which was piloted by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee in the absence of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, received the unanimous support of all the parties.

The Fifth Summit of the Americas will be held in Trinidad from April 17 to 19 under the theme “Securing Our Citizen’s Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability.” At the Summit, 34 Heads of State and Government of the Western Hemisphere will meet in Port of Spain to discuss major issues facing the region.