For the first time in its recent history, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has managed to return a zero-sum previous year account and according to Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best this speaks volumes of the resoluteness of the force to act responsibly and spend within its budgetary allocation.
“Also, for the first time in many, many years, no request for supplementary funding for ration was necessary. We are now purchasing smartly, eating sensibly and preparing healthier food, which reduces waste and saves dollars,” Best told President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday, during the opening session of the GDF’s annual officers’ conference at Camp Ayanganna.
According to Best, achieving the zero-sum previous year account was made possible because last year’s spending was only authorised through programme and activity-based budgets as unit commanders are now part of the force’s budgetary preparations and no longer onlookers. “This has brought a remarkable change in focus and attitude of commanders who now have the responsibility of preparing, submitting and defending their budget for approval,” Best said.
For the fourth consecutive year, the conference was held under the theme ‘Re-engineering to Enhance National Defence and Security’ and according to Best the journey of re-engineering continues and the officer corps of the GDF remains committed to the completion of the process.
Referring to the critical work that needs to done in order to complete the process-the conclusion of an organisational analysis of the force, a strategic review, a strategic defence plan, and a multi-year developmental plan for the force-Best said that the force has been making strides. He said that the organisational analysis has been completed while the strategic review is expected to be completed by May.
According to Best, the result of the strategic review will influence the GDF’s tactical strategic responses to national defence and security. He said the recommendations would be forwarded to the Defence Board and implemented once the blessing of President Jagdeo was given. Best also revealed that all the force’s security standing orders have been overhauled and re-written and by March the standing orders as it relates to operations, administration, logistics and finance would be fully updated.
