The Army said the vessel is today due at Port Linden for a five-day stay during which residents of the town and neighbouring communities will be allowed tours on the ship similar to those given residents in the North West District, Berbice and Parika.

The GDFS Essequibo was last week at Parika in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) and residents expressed satisfaction at the role the Coast Guard plays in protecting the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and particularly the show of naval capability since the acquisition of the nation's Flagship, the GDF said in a press release.

"I, as a taxpayer, am pleased with what I have seen aboard the GDFS Essequibo. I know that our money has not been spent in vain and I strongly support the view of many Essequibians that the presence of this ship must be felt more within our territorial waters, especially in the Corentyne", a resident said, according to the release.

The ship made its port call in the region at Parika, East Bank Essequibo between Tuesday March 17 and Friday, March 21.

Unlike the North West Berbice port calls, residents of Region Three, in very large groups waited until the final day (Thursday) to be taken on conducted tours aboard the flagship to experience and be familiar with the operation of the vessel, the Army said.

It said some residents, including a teacher of the Parika Primary School, noted that the two-day strike organised by the Guyana Teachers' Union had impacted negatively on the prearranged plans the teachers had for students to visit the vessel.

Many students, however, visited the vessel in the company of their parents and guardians and were delighted at the sight of the flagship and the cannons aboard, the Army said.