A visiting United Kingdom naval team says it plans to assist Guyana in making the army’s flagship, the GDFS Essequibo, seaworthy again and to establish new links between the Royal Navy and the military here.
“I would also be sending across some engineers to your Coast Guard vessel, to assist in some engineering training and if possible, see if we get your Coast Guard vessel running and working to exercise with us on Friday,” Command-ing Officer of the HMS Mersey, Lieutenant Com-mander Richard Hewitt told reporters aboard the ship yesterday.
Hewitt said the HMS Mersey would engage in a coastal patrol exercise as it sails out of Guyana on Friday. “Hopefully the two vessels will be manoeuvring in close proximity to see how you operate and how we operate,” he said.
The vessel docked at the Coast Guard headquarters at Ruimveldt yesterday as part of a four-day visit, during which the team will be assisting the Guyana Defence Force’s Coast Guard in fixing the GDFS Essequibo and sharing expertise on offshore maritime patrols. It is the first Royal Navy ship to visit Guyana in 20 years and Hewitt said that it was also made in anticipation of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.
He pointed out that he learned that Guyana plans to buy additional coast guard vessels and he believes the team can share experiences while here. “We can show you how we do that in the Royal Navy,” he said.
Hewitt said too that while there has been no direct counter narcotics efforts, the mere presence of the vessel in the Caribbean territory has acted as a deterrent to the drug flow. He pointed out that Guyana is part of a wide area that remains vulnerable to drug trafficking and so the focus is feeding off intelligence where the UK navy can work with partners to offer specified assistance if requested.
“We have had some successes with regards to some vessels we have seen. We have assisted our partner nations in those successes and more of that to follow. By HMS Mersey being in the area itself, it also acts as deterrent and in the three months we have been in the Caribbean we have stopped further flows by just being in the area itself,” he stated.
The HMS Mersey left the UK in January and will be deployed on Atlantic Patrol Task (North) until July. “She will provide security and assurance to the UK’s overseas territories in the Caribbean, visiting all 6 during her time in the region,” a statement from the vessel asserts.
“Mersey will also reinforce trade links with Central America and reaffirm relationships with foreign partners, including the Mexican Navy. She will also take part in the multinational exercise Trade-winds 16 in June. Additionally, she will conduct counter-narcotics patrols with a US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detatchment team embarked for boarding operations. Throughout the deployment she will be on standby to assist with disaster relief operations, carrying emergency relief stores including food and water and among her 48-member crew is a doctor and medical team,” it added.
