President David Granger has assured the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard that the intuitional strengthening of that unit is among his chief priorities.
The president met with the unit during a tour of the Ruimveldt Coast Guard Headquarters on Monday. He thanked the ranks for the professionalism that they have shown over the years and he was briefed on the challenges of daily operations and what is required for optimum efficiency and results, a report from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
Speaking about the importance of the Coast Guard, Granger recalled that when it was established 25 years ago the maritime threat that existed then still exists now…. “But, as they say eternal vigilance is the price we have to pay for freedom, and one of the most vulnerable frontiers of Guyana is this fore frontier, this coastland and we can only depend on you to protect this entire frontier.”
The president charged the ranks to practice due diligence in the conduct of their duty which entails protecting Guyana’s human and military resources along with combating maritime crimes such as smuggling, piracy and all forms of trafficking. “These crimes distort the economy, most of the crimes of contraband and trafficking contribute to keeping Guyana poor, and that is why you’re given a law enforcement function,” he said.
Describing the ranks as Guyana’s best and first line of defence against maritime crimes, the president noted that no other agency can effectively carry out the mandate that rests on the shoulders of the coast guards. “You here in the Coast Guard are not just looking after the rivers, looking after the coastland, you are protecting the future of our country, you are protecting our children’s inheritance, (and) you are protecting the patrimony of this great nation,” Granger said.
The head of state also said it is imperative to ensure that foreign trade is protected and that citizens feel safe as they traverse the country’s waterways. He noted that while it is important to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity, the presence of the Coast Guard must be felt in every area.Regarding training, Granger said he believed that the Coast Guard should be given specialised training on issues relating to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea since Guyana has a large sea frontier. Each rank should have a clear understanding of both land and sea frontier issues, he said. The president also made it clear that while the Coast Guard has a role to play, his administration intends to resolve some outstanding border issues amicably. “The fact is that unless we resolve these maritime claims, we will not be able to exploit a source of one of our most important resources that is offshore petroleum,” he said.
Recommendations
Meanwhile, Granger pledged that under his administration, steps will be taken to treat and resolve outstanding issues affecting the effective operations of the unit. Discussions will soon begin on increasing the manpower of the Coast Guard, including the possibility of creating a Reserve arm of the unit. Local and overseas training will also be explored, along with the upgrading of equipment. However, in the interim, ranks were encouraged to care the equipment that they currently have on hand as government would have over the years, expended large sums to procure them.
According to GINA, some of the recommendations that were made by the Disciplined Forces Commission several years ago will now be implemented to address some of the challenges facing the Coast Guard. The president gave further assurances that his administration would continue to provide the resources needed to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity.
