The Donald Ramotar administration says that its fear that the rulership of Guyana will be militarized should the APNU+AFC be elected to govern the country, is clear and present as it has proof that the hierarchy is filled with past servicemen.
Government is specifically concerned about former Chief of Staff Gary Best’s recent endorsement of the APNU+AFC as his knowledge of confidential governance information can be passed on to his party, Cabinet Secretary to the Defence Board Dr Roger Luncheon said last week.
“I don’t want to burden you with the facts but when I show you the details that we have about the leadership, not only the rank and file of APNU+AFC you will have to agree that 2015 is a different kettle of fish than 2011,” Luncheon told Stabroek News when asked about the sudden alarm by government about militarization when the opposition had nearly the same amount of servicemen on its team in 2011. He said that at last Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting the issue of militarized rulership was discussed and it was noted that while the matter is of great concern to the government and has been raised a number of times there has been no denial by the opposition.
“Essentially, there hasn’t even been any repudiation that what is claimed is occurring. There hasn’t been any rejection or denial of this development that there is indeed militarization in the leadership of PNC and the APNU and that this development is new,” the HPS stressed.
Luncheon went back in time, giving reflections from his perspective, of when the country was ruled by Linden Forbes Burnham, saying that the military was not autonomous but subordinated and directed by the then leader.
“The military, particularly the retired military, and even during the days of the PNC dictatorial administration and party paramountcy, the military was always differentiated and subordinated from the political party,” he opined.
“I don’t believe the fact that the Kabaka (Burnham) used to adorn himself in a military uniform, should ever be misconstrued to how the Kabaka …felt and saw the role and contributions of the military in sustaining the PNC regime,” he further posited.
The current head of the Guyana Defence Board informed that he has been making known his reservations of a potential military rule and it seemed to have “fallen on deaf ears”.
He used the opportunity to blast Best who recently endorsed the APNU+AFC saying that he cannot be trusted. However, he pointed out that Best’s current political life is a matter that President Donald Ramotar would be addressing soon.
“Yesterday’s chief of staff is today consorting with the opposition. Now I want to point out to you that the engagement between Commander in Chief and the Chief of Staff of the military is based on trust. Trust in the exact and current relationship, as well as trust in its historical antecedents…”
He added “If that is an obvious conclusion that I draw is I cannot understand why it is being encouraged. Why immediately after demitting office, enjoying the greatest confidence of the commander in chief, the situation of a departing Chief of Staff happily ensconced in the arms of the opposition is a reality the commander in chief of the armed forces have to address,”.
Asked about Major General (Rtd) Joe Singh working with the current president, Luncheon said that the circumstances are different. “Look at Joe Singh, Joe Singh works here but Joe Singh cannot in no way or fashion be compared to Gary Best or (Edward) Collins … he never addressed anyone. He never approached us we approached him,” he said pointing out that the latter duo could not “in a month of Sundays” achieve the level of respect earned by Singh.
