Joint Services to review disciplinary protocols
Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best, recently met with heads and senior officers of the army to discuss a range of issues related to command and leadership within the Joint Services, addressing what was recognized as a definite command and leadership deficit.
According to a release on Saturday from the GDF, the Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Joint Services met with the senior officers of the army and its sister services at Base Camp Ayanganna on Tuesday last. The discussions, the release stated, were in the wake of the “unfortunate incident” two weeks ago, a reference to the brutal murder of Bartica gold dealer, Dweive Kant Ramdass who was killed and dumped in the Essequibo River allegedly by three members of the Coast Guard.
Best noted that senior officers of the Joint Services in command positions seem to be failing at providing leadership as is required and mandated through their Instruments of Commission. He called for leadership to be displayed by the senior officers through collective action, emphasising that the Joint Services, “cannot be indolent in their approach to incidents reported to them by the public and from within the Forces themselves”.
The Chief of Staff explained that results oriented leadership was based on nothing less than the maintenance of discipline and called on officers to ensure that whenever the need arises for disciplinary action to be served, same must be provided in a swift and decisive manner. ”Officers must follow up to ensure their subordinates compliance with orders that are given,” Best stated.
Best also said that it was recognized that among the Joint Services institutions, the issue of discipline was dealt with through differing protocols, and in this regard, the release stated, the Heads of the Joint Services are to hold discussions on the differing disciplinary procedures and make necessary recommendations to the Defence Board. Best explained that the GDF’s Code of Conduct will be reviewed and revised following which the Army will republish and reissue new copies to its officers.
According to the release, following a public outcry stemming from the unfortunate incident, the Chief of Staff is responding to many letters which he has received from members of the public and he has expressed his appreciation, the release noted, to those persons for all the observations and contributions they have made.
The release also stated that the leadership of the Joint Services, along with the officers present at last Tuesday’s forum engaged in lively and spirited discussions and it was suggested that a forum be convened to hold similar discussions with middle managers and supervisors within the Joint Services.
