Amid the disappearance of another AK-47 rifle from the Guyana Defence Force armoury, Commander-in-Chief President Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday said he would be monitoring the performance of the army and expects results.
His comments came at a commissioning parade for officers who recently completed the Standard and Reserve Officers’ course.
Five officers from the Belizean Defence Force, one from the Barbados Defence Force and another from the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force also graduated as Second Lieutenants along with 17 officers from the GDF. Six others graduated as Reserve Officers.
Jagdeo decorated the ensigns with their badges of rank and following the parade he said even though their training started under one leadership and ended under another, “Let me assure you that the obligations and demands of the GDF and the expectations of my administration remain the same.”
“Let me also assure you that our administration will continue to pay heightened interest to performance evaluation of the individual and collectively and at the organisational levels of the disciplined forces,” Jagdeo declared.
The President also told the gathering which included top army ranks from Belize, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda that his government was prepared to work specifically with the military to overcome the “recent and not so recent” setbacks and help the institution to realize its appointed tasks.
Last year more than 30 weapons disappeared from the Army headquarters at Camp Ayanganna, 13 of which have since been recovered but two weeks ago a single weapon went missing.
Jagdeo acknowledged that under his watch the army’s tasks have been expanded to reflect the challenges facing the country, adding that security and economic challenges were likely to have an effect on the national well-being.
“However the security challenges if not adequately addressed could compound the difficulties in relation to addressing the economic challenge,” Jagdeo said as he highlighted factors such as rising oil prices which he noted was putting pressure on the cost of living.
In a statement circulated on Wednesday, Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best said that the officers were being commissioned at a time when there has been a significant change in the leadership of the GDF and also when criminal elements have been emboldened and are attacking the very fabric of their existence.
“You are also graduating at a time when the relevance of the GDF is questioned.
That means that your mere existence is being challenged,” Best told the new officers even as he bid them congratulations.
Second Lieutenant Orwain Sandy, 25, was adjudged best graduating student winning for himself the sword of honour and he will collect the Venezuelan and Brazilian armed forces prize at a later date.
Second Lieutenant Wyette Nestor copped the runner-up prize and the prize for best military knowledge while Second Lieutenant Elton Henry was awarded for best drill.
Wednesday’s ceremony opened with the traditional parade which greeted Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, then President Jagdeo who inspected the troops.
The Standard Officers’ Course was developed to provide training not only for new army officers but also for new officers of the other disciplined services.
