Commander of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), US Marine Corps General John F Kelly visited Guyana earlier this week to discuss bilateral security.
According to a press release from the United States Embassy, Kelly met with President Donald Ramotar to discuss bilateral security, particularly as it relates to dismantling and disrupting of drug trafficking in the region.
During his November 4 to November 5 visit, the Commander was also hosted by Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier-General Mark Phillips at Camp Stevenson, where he viewed a sharpshooting demonstration. The release said the US Commander visited the GDF Coast Guard Headquarters and conducted a brief patrol of the Demerara River on the metal shark boats which were donated by the US Government under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Camp Ayanganna and the GDF Medical Corps Laboratory were also visited and Kelly received briefings on current activities and initiatives.
A reception was also held in his honour at the US Ambassador’s residence. In his address to those gathered, which included members of the diplomatic corps, key stakeholders in the government and the private sector, Kelly spoke of the strong partnership between the two countries’ military in addressing regional security challenges and of Guyana’s strong leadership in the promotion of regional security cooperation.
US Embassy Charge d’ Affaires Bryan Hunt is reported as saying that it was under General Kelly’s leadership at SOUTHCOM in which a growth in security cooperation took place between the two nations under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. According to Hunte, SOUTHCOM plays a crucial role in assisting Caribbean nations, Guyana included, in combatting of narcotics, weapon smuggling and human trafficking in the region.
SOUTHCOM, based in Miami, Florida, according to the release, is responsible for overseeing all US military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean inclusive of contingency planning, operations and security cooperation. This area of responsibility covers approximately one sixth of the world landmass and includes 31 countries and 15 areas of special sovereignty, the Embassy said.
