Former Chief-of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Mark Phillips says he was inspired to join the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and serve as its prime ministerial candidate after witnessing what he calls the current government’s disregard for the constitution of Guyana and the rule of law.
“The No-Confidence Motion (NCM) in Parliament and the shenanigans that facilitated the blatant disregard for the rule of law tore at the core of my professionalism as a retired public administrator. The violation of the Constitution of Guyana, which I had sworn to uphold during my military service, was the catalyst that caused me to forego my retirement and seek to return to active service for the people of Guyana,” Phillips, a retired Brigadier, told Sunday Stabroek in a wide-ranging interview.
“As I mentioned to you before, updating myself, examining the political landscape and examining in great detail the plans and proposed policies of the PPP/C, I knew that this is a movement I can readily be a part of. Service to Guyana remains paramount. I see myself as playing a major role and assisting Dr. [Irfaan] Ali as his Prime Minister in marshalling our team to implement the plans as outlined in the Plan for Prosperity 2020-2025 manifesto,” he added.
He believes that he will have the support of not only the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) but the entire Joint Services.
“As Chief-of-Staff, I was also Coordinator of the Joint Services and during my tenure we were able to work closely on joint operations and other security-related matters…they know that in me there is someone who can identify with their challenges from a professional and personal standpoint,” he said.
Phillips was selected last month as the PPP/C’s Prime Ministerial candidate for the March 2nd general and regional elections as a member of the Civic component of the ticket.
‘No contact with Roger Khan’
Even as he championed his party’s promise to make security and eradication of crime a top priority while bridging the racial divide, Phillips distanced himself from any connection with convicted drug trafficker Roger Khan during his time in the GDF in the period after the 2002 jailbreak, which saw a historic crime wave.
Asked about the period when Khan said he collaborated with the then PPP/C government and the police force to fight crime, Phillips said: “Roger Khan? How can you ask me about Roget Khan? …I had no contact with Roger Khan. I was in the GDF during the time you mentioned, yes, but I held different positions and none of them had anything to do with Roger Khan’s matter.”
“I was during that time doing GDF work and worked in personnel, as an operations officer and other posts. Ask [Winston] Felix [Minister of Citizenship and then Acting Commissioner of Police] about Roger Khan…,” he added.
Having been trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the one-time parachutist said that he believes that since he accepted the position as the PPP/C’s prime ministerial candidate, persons want to tarnish his 36 years of service in the GDF and have tried to tie him to “all sorts of bizarre things, from Roger Khan to selling out, to the next”.
Phillips, who served as Chief-of-staff from 2013 to 2016, said that he wants to make it clear that during the 2002 to 2010 period he was focused on undertaking the duties of the GDF to which he was assigned and was not in the decision-making processes of how the army may have dealt with Khan.
For more than 15 years, the number of persons who died in the violence that followed the February 23rd, 2002 Camp Street jailbreak and the circumstances of their deaths have been the sources of heated disputation.
Phillips noted that the government also tries to tie his party to the crime spree and many of the deaths that occurred during that time and he pointed to the flaws in the linkages. “There is an old saying which states that if a lie is repeated often enough it becomes believable. The propaganda and spin machinery of the other side has deliberately and repeatedly preached the story of 400 deaths in a deliberate ploy to make it believable. However, this notion has been dispelled forthwith. As a relatively recent leader in the Joint Services, I can say clearly and unequivocally that we were and are aware that that number was pulled out of a hat and [the] later revelation of a list showed that it contained policemen killed by bandits, bandits themselves, other ethnic groups and victims of crimes. I believe it may have also contained people alive today. This reality makes it a real perception for some who believe in the people who spew these distortions,” he said.
“The goalposts continue to be shifted. Accusations started out by saying 400 of a particular ethnic group were killed, then it moved to 400 youths then the list’s actual revelation caused the misinformation to be exposed. A good litmus test of our security reality is the fact that the US State Department has told its citizens that when travelling to Guyana they should exercise increased caution in our country because violent crime, such as armed robbery and murder, are common. The Americans believe the local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents,” he added.
‘Security and safety of all’
Phillips said because of his military background, he wants to be able to assure persons living here that their neighborhoods are safe, “that their daughters can come home from lessons in a safe environment, that their sons will not easily access weapons, that their children and the elderly can traverse the streets without being weary of road carnage and that those who are bent on living on the wrong side of the law will know that its long arms are always within touching distance.”
Phillips added that he was drawn to the PPP/C’s manifesto, which he said preaches prosperity, safety, development and comfort for this nation’s populace, and felt compelled to join the party to be a part of the process and help provide his experience in leadership to make it happen. “Not only that but it ranges from improved social services, to prudent financial management and fiduciary oversight of our country’s resources, to programmes that ensure the future development of this country and its people…,” he said.
When asked what about the plans makes them different to those instituted over the past years, he went to list a number of the proposals being explored. He explained that there is a strategic plan intended to provide more equipment, facilities and training for law enforcement personnel, and improve investigative and forensic capabilities, while expanding the use of modern technology and intelligence in the fight against crime, including cybercrimes. He said plans for ensuring greater accountability by the police for solving crimes, enhancing the capabilities of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), strengthening the army to enhance maritime and border security, reforming the prison system to include compulsory training/education for prisoners, and realising security and safety of prison officers and safer prisons with improved conditions could also be found in the manifesto.
“Many of these were not done over the past five years. If they were attempted, they were seemingly so without sufficient strategic approaches,” Phillips said.
Asked if it has been agreed that public security would fall under the prime ministerial portfolio if the PPP/C is elected, he indicated that he would be seeking to contribute in one way or another. “There has been much chatter about me holding specific portfolios. While my expertise and experience reside in the realm of national security, a strategic approach to this issue in the wider context of governance and a constitutional position as high as Prime Minister, it does not necessarily place me in that Brick dam office. I can assure you however, that with my background, I will in one way, shape or form contribute to the crafting and execution of security and safety of all Guyanese without fear or favour,” he said.
His ultimate mission as Prime Minister, he said, would be to be a “servant of the people”. He was quick to point out that him saying that in no way conflicts with, or is opposed to, the PPP and its approach to resuming government in Guyana. This is so since after having reviewed the approaches, philosophy and construct of the party, it was that which motivated him “to be a part of this side of the body politic.”
‘Apolitical’
When questioned if he was always a supporter of the PPP/C during his tenure in the GDF and his political posture during the time he served, he said he was apolitical.
“Political posture in the Guyana Defense Force? Absolutely not. The officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force all take pride in their professionalism. This is the organizational culture of the Force and one that I have upheld as a junior officer, senior officer, and Chief-of-Staff. As a soldier, the extent of my personal political convictions and actions began and ended in the polling booth and discussions with none other than my spouse. My interface with the body politic began at the rank of Colonel, in my capacity of Colonel, Administration and Quartering, which is the accounting officer of the Guyana Defence Force. This position required interaction with the Secretary of the Defence Board and the Ministry of Finance as well playing a role in the execution of policy for the government of the day. I served with absolute professionalism and distinction across PPP/C and APNU+AFC administrations as Chief-of-Staff, a role I commenced in 2013 and, as mentioned before, ended in 2016 at retirement,” he stressed.
“It was after retirement and with more time on hand to pay closer attention to the political issues in Guyana, examining the country’s potential and objectively scrutinizing which side augurs better for Guyana to realize this potential, that I was more convinced that the track record, competencies and ability of the personnel within the PPP/C was better suited. At this time, already deciding that I wanted to play a role in Guyana’s development, and to continue serving this great country and all of its wonderful people, my mind was made up. I saw myself, Mark Phillips, as a vital contributor to the PPP/C’s plan to develop Guyana,” he added.
