GDF Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best and Canadian Defence Attaché Colonel Yvan Boilard discussed areas of cooperation between the two armed forces, when Boilard paid a courtesy call at Camp Ayanganna on Tuesday.
According to a press release from the GDF, the two officers also initiated points of contact to facilitate easier communication between the Guyana Defence Force and the Canadian Armed Forces. Boilard is resident in Brazil and has responsibility for his government’s military affairs across South America. It was his first visit to the GDF.
Among the proposals made by the army CoS was the possibility of Canadian support for Coast Guard officer training and certification, with such certification being enabled through the services of a retired Canadian naval officer. The colonel agreed to explore that possibility and reiterated that Canada will continue to fund the five places awarded annually to the GDF at the Caribbean Junior Command and Staff course which is held in Jamaica.
Best also sought Canada’s support to provide training for GDF personnel in areas of anti-piracy strategies and security for oil-rig platforms. The benefits and means for the enhancement of state partnership programmes were also on the agenda, the release said. Guyana has benefited from diplomatic and military cooperation programmes with Canada over several decades, it added.
The commodore also extended an open invitation for the attaché to return at any time to visit the GDF.
