Dear Editor,
I refer to the PNCR’s press statement of April 3, 2008.
This release drew attention to the PPP/C’s hatred and suspicion of the Disciplined Forces.
This is utter nonsense as the assets of the Disciplined Forces were shown to be dwindling long before 1992, and the morale and psyche of the Disciplined Forces were at an all time low in 1992. And so it was not surprising to learn that prior to 1992, the PNC’s budgetary allocations for the Disciplined Forces were extremely limited.
The PPP/C Government has always understood the meaningful role that the Disciplined Forces play in this society, and will continue to fully support their development.
Since 1992, the PPP/C Administration’s budgetary allocations for the Disciplined Forces will obliterate the PNCR’s naïve and unfounded allegation of the PPP/C’s hatred and suspicion for the Disciplined Forces. I now present to you budgetary allocations over a number of years.
Under this Administration, the Disciplined Forces have enhanced their state of preparedness because this Government has made adequate budgetary allocations since 1992. The Budget in 2008 allocated $13.7 B for the Security Sector, whereas in 1992, it was $942 M. The PNCR has shown scant respect for the Disciplined Services. You would recall the PNCR Leader Mr. Robert Corbin’s letter to the President, expressing his puzzlement at this new Joint Services’ activity; there were 11 distortions in Corbin’s letter.
And the day before Corbin issued his letter, the Government’s release noted that the Government will engage various stakeholders on the question of compensation. And according to the Standard Operating Procedures of the Joint Services, reparations will be effected for collateral damage.
This entire charade of the PNCR with respect to this letter and the PNCR Leader’s visit to Buxton early this year to inspect alleged damage inflicted on properties through the Joint Services’ operations point to wounding the good name of the Joint Services.
Again, you would recall Corbin’s refusal to declare Buxton as a safe haven for criminals; this might have very well been another attempt to retard the Joint Services’ operations. And you may need to know, too, that Andaiye, David Hinds, and Eusi Kwayana referred to Buxton as a terror camp on October 20, 2004 on guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com.
As Guyanese, we need to support the work of the Joint Services, and Guyanese must be congratulated for the high levels cooperation meted out to the Joint Services.
Yours faithfully,
Prem Misir
