The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) says that the concerns raised by residents of the Region Seven border community of Kaikan about the behaviour of soldiers stationed there will be investigated but it said the Force will not surrender its obligation to protect the territorial integrity of the country.
In a statement yesterday, the GDF was responding to an editorial in the Sunday Stabroek of September 15 which was based on a September 8 report in the Stabroek News entitled `Police, army presence blamed for security, social problems in Kaikan -land study finds’.
Among other things, the land study had said “The GDF had entered the village during border patrols and remained, claiming to be providing security for the airstrip. The village has complained over the years that women in the community have been sexually assaulted and that… soldiers have had relationships with married women, causing strife. Village residents additionally report being threatened and intimidated by soldiers when they try to protect their daughters from soldiers who come uninvited to their homes”.
The study had also claimed that police and soldiers have stolen from the village over the years and have broken into village shops to steal food and other times, and recently have also been taking advantage of Venezuelan prostitutes – taking away their identity cards and forcing them to have sex in order to have their documents returned.
“Village residents note that they understand the army is supposed to be providing security for the village because they are on the border with Venezuela. Although some residents report being concerned about escalating tensions between Guyana and Venezuela, they also note that the GDF’s presence is unnecessary because they do not provide additional security beyond what the village council and Community Policing Group already provide. Instead, the GDF is causing additional problems in the village,” the study added.
In its statement yesterday, the GDF noted that the editorial cited parts of an internationally funded assessment of primarily land usage and titling issues for some 24 indigenous communities in Cuyuni/Mazaruni and that the assessment was done on behalf of the Amerindian People’s Association.
The GDF statement said that “The Guyana Defence Force is constitutionally mandated to protect the territorial integrity of Guyana as well as provide security for its people. In this regard, the Force’s presence at Kaikan is legitimate. Notwithstanding the concerns of the community, the Force must be allowed to carry out its remit. Irrespective of the communities within which our troops operate our Values and Standards remain the same. As such, all of our ranks are obligated under the law to subject themselves to good conduct. Misconduct by any member of the Guyana Defence Force is dealt with condignly.
“The Guyana Defence Force wishes to assure this nation that it is committed to the safety of the people of Guyana and the defence of the country’s territorial integrity. The concerns raised in the report will be investigated thoroughly and efforts will be made to foster better relations with the residents of Kaikan. However, the Force will not surrender its constitutional responsibility nor abrogate its rights”.
