Caretaker President David Granger yesterday said that members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will benefit from increased training at every level over the next ten years under the ‘Decade of Development’.
“Training will be intensified at all levels during the next ten years. Your personal education and expertise are essential to improving your leadership and stewardship. All of you will be provided with opportunities to upgrade your qualifications and skills. Emphasis will be placed on improving expertise in the technical corps – Air Corps, Coast Guard, Engineer Corps, Intelligence Corps and the Signal Corps – deployment of paratroops and the employment of artillery,” Granger said.
He noted that training is “indispensable” for the development of professionalism and proficiency and as such it is essential for ensuring the success of military missions, operational effectiveness and the development of physical endurance.
Granger, whose image has taken a battering in recent months because of the view that his coalition has lost the March 2nd general election but is refusing to concede, made this disclosure during his address at the Commissioning service for the Standard Officer’s Course (SOC) Number 51 which was held at the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri yesterday.
Due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Granger delivered his address virtually.
SOC 51 commenced in June 2018 with 54 students, 25 of whom have endured the rigorousness of training and will officially become officers following the completion of all the commissioning activities which will end tomorrow.
Two of the potential Officers are from the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, one from the Belize Coast Guard and one from the Jamaica Defence Force.
Granger told the officers that the force is “not a stage for showmen or a theatre for lone rangers. …It is built on groups and is guided by solidarity among all servicemen and women through its values and standards – the officers’ catechism,” he said while noting, “officers must embrace the five values of duty, discipline, identity, integrity and loyalty”.
He urged the officers, who are the newest and youngest of the GDF that their promotion as second lieutenants came at a time when the Force is observing 55th years of existence and at the start of the country’s ‘Decade of Development’.
He said a decade from today, Guyana will end its ‘Decade of Development’ which was launched at the beginning of this year.
“The Decade will confirm the country as a petroleum-producing state; a green state; a digital state and an education state. We will witness unprecedented economic transformation. You and your families will enjoy a superior quality of life. Our people will be pursuing the path to the good life,” he said.
Granger further noted that a decade from now, the GDF will also be playing a “greater role” in protecting the country’s patrimony, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Cadets today can expect to be promoted to the rank of Captain proving, thereby, your preparedness to command our nation’s soldiers on operations; you will be among the leaders helping to influence defence policy and to build a more professional Force. Officers can expect to continue their studies on advanced courses at higher military schools, on academic courses at the University and in training in science and technology thereby enhancing your own, careers and the Force’s capabilities,” he stated.
Over the past five years, under his leadership, Granger told the officers that the GDF has been “reorganized and reequipped”.
“The Force’s reserve – the Guyana People’s Militia – is being expanded and equipped to become a citizens’ army to be of greater service to the people. The Militia has been deployed to all ten of the country’s administrative regions, thereby allowing the Force to respond readily to threats and emergencies. The Militia has increased its strength more than ten-fold from January 2015 to January 2020,” he said.
According to Granger, the technical corps of the GDF has also been improved and its training regime has been enhanced.
He reminded the officers that the GDF is charged with “preserving, protecting and safeguarding” the country’s patrimony, political independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“The Force is mandated to protect our territorial borders and maritime zones and to resist and repel attacks on our land and people,” Granger said.
Granger and his government have faced increasing ostracizing here and internationally over the view that they are turning a blind eye to the rigging of the March 2nd general elections in their favour.
