President recommits to recapitalising Army
by Sharon Lall
TO CHEERS from the Second Infantry Battalion group (reserve) of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday recommitted himself to recapitalising the Army. "This country recognises the important role that the Army has played over the years...We do not have anything other than the 83,000 square miles of this country and our maritime resources...And we will have to, whatever it takes, make sure that this country remains whole," the Head of Stated declared. "That should be the message that we send out there...every single Guyanese regardless of political affiliation", he urged. He also announced that several political parties and experts have been invited to serve on a Presidential Advisory body dealing with border disputes. He said the letters were sent Tuesday, noting that the decision to set up such a group was taken in the absence of a Standing Committee in Parliament capable of treating border matters in a "non-partisan way". The government has almost reached a consensus on the role of the GDF, one that fits in with the Constitution and the Defence Act of Guyana, he said. "Whatever we do must be constitutional...within the Act that we operate under...the role of the Army (and) reserves would be expanded," the President promised. He was speaking to senior GDF officers and ranks at Base Seweyo, on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. The Commander-in-Chief, who was accompanied by Home Affairs Minister, Mr Ronald Gajraj, Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock, Mr Satyadeow Sawh and Local Government Minister, Mr Harripersaud Nokta, was taken on a tour of the base. Guyana's diplomats are now engaged in talks to bolster diplomatic capabilities as it regards the border issue, the President said. Similarly, the administration is engaging the Chief of Staff and the Defence Board in discussions to acquire additional equipment which could boost the marine arm of the GDF. President Jagdeo admitted that Guyana's "lack of capabilities" has not allowed it to deal effectively with the incursion of illegals who have been exploiting the vast amount of resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Over the last few months there have been attempts to "threaten" the territorial integrity, the wholeness of this country's 83,000 square miles, the President noted. But he categorically declared: "We (Guyana) will not allow that to happen. Whatever it takes, we will not allow that to happen." President Jagdeo, in reference to erroneous reports carried in the Stabroek News, said he wonders at times about the "mischief" people want to create in the border issue. "I am not saying that this is political. I think it is more individual related. There were talks about us (Guyana) accepting a proposal for joint utilisation from Venezuela. "We have made it clear (that) our land borders with Venezuela were settled in 1899. "That is the position of my government. With Suriname we have a little different situation. That is why since 1989 we were trying to work on a proposal for joint utilisation of resources in the disputed area, with none of the parties giving up their claim to the area. "There have been attempts to say that we will take a similar position with Venezuela." But that, the President said, is a "very, very different matter" altogether. There has been an agreement, the President said, for the GDF to remain a "small, professional (and) strong" unit supported by a large reserve. "This is largely because of our capabilities as a country...In our context, the Army has to support other sections of law enforcement agencies...our Army has to play a very important role in national development," the President added. He said the government has been thinking of ways to expand the role of the GDF in civil projects and for it to join groupings like the Police Force to help in the fight against crime. "Guyana has been used for some time as a transshipment point for narco-trade and for narcotics going to North America and Europe... "Given the tremendous skill base in the GDF and commitment of its officers and ranks, they have to be involved in one way or another in this fight (since) narco-trade is debilitating to the countries in which it is practised," the President remarked. Making similar observations, GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Michael Atherly noted that Guyana, apart from threats on its eastern and western borders, has begun to notice trading in narcotics and weapons in the Oronoco Delta and even in the Corentyne Delta. "These are activities that carry national security implications for our country," he observed. Given the importance of a well-coordinated "national effort" in dealing with sovereignty and defence, Brigadier Atherly said the GDF "needs the support of a fast and elastic reserve force that can help satisfy national defence and security needs". President Jagdeo reported that GDF funding over the last decade has increased significantly. In 1990, there was spending of $300,000 for capital equipment in the GDF, and about $187M used to pay wages and salaries, and other recurrent cost and training. This year, the Army has a budgetary allocation of $117M on its capital side. "We have been rebuilding our Army. Sometimes we put a lot of attention on health and housing because those things are very visible. We speak about the expenditure increase in these areas, but we have not spoken enough about efforts to rebuild our defence capabilities," the President stated. He noted the government's appreciation for the important task of the GDF reserves in bolstering the national defence capability. There is also awareness of the role they have assumed over the years in supporting law and order and assisting the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in the distribution of food and water whenever disaster strikes in the country, the President added.  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