GDF, Brazilian counterparts meet in Lethem for regional meeting

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) hosted a delegation from the First Jungle Infantry Brigade for the Sixteenth Regional Military Guyana/Brazil Conference in Lethem.

The Guyanese and Brazilians delegations (GDF photo)

In a press release the army said the conference location is rotated annually between the two countries. Guyana’s delegation was led by Colonel George Lewis and comprised Major Sherwin Anderson, Major Delbert George, Major Meer Khan and Captain Eon Murray.

The Brazilian delegation was led by Brigadier General Franklimberg De Freitas and comprised Colonel Wilson Mendes Lauria, Lieutenant Colonel Jose Arnon Dos Santos Guerra, Lieutenant Colonel Osmar B Souza Jr, Major Regis Rodrigues Nunes, Major Marcos Americo Vieira Pessoa and 2Lt Michael Marcelo Zagury Reis De Souza.

Discussions focused on a number of security matters relating to the Guyana/Brazil border including transnational crime, cross border trade and the security challenges posed by the recently opened Takutu River Bridge and the road linking Lethem and Georgetown. Additionally, a number of agreements were concluded and signed including the sharing of information between the two armies as it relates to border matters and sporting exchanges between the Guyanese troops stationed at Lethem and the Brazilian troops stationed at Bon Fim.

The Regional Meeting of Military Exchange is an annual event held between the border commands of Brazil and Guyana. The GDF said Chief-of-Staff Commodore Gary Best will host a reception for the Brazilian delegation before they depart.