The graduates of the GDF Standard Officers Course 52 have been told by their Commander-in-Chief, President Irfaan Ali that their role as officers also encompasses disaster preparedness and response operations in addition to defending Guyana’s national sovereignty.
According to an Office of the President release on Tuesday, these remarks were part of his address to the graduates of the GDF Standard Officers Course 52 at Base Camp Ayanganna. The newly-minted officers were told that in addition to securing the country’s territorial integrity, the GDF will play an integral role in the development of a National Disaster plan to help protect Guyanese and the country’s resources from the effects of climate change.
The release informed that ranks are currently involved in the Covid-19 vaccination campaign as well as assisting in the national response to the country-wide flooding. These actions, the president pointed out, prove that the GDF is suited to support civil protection, disaster preparedness and disaster response operations “now and in the future.” He made reference to his address at the recently concluded Annual GDF Officers’ Conference where he highlighted that the National Defence Policy “will see greater involvement of the Guyana Defence Force in search and rescue operations, disaster response, provision of infrastructural services, in the defence and protection of border communities, in medical outreaches, in response to medical emergencies and in coaching and honing the talents of our athletes.”
He added, “Guyana has no control over the forces of nature. However, we can mitigate their effects and plan to better protect our people and assets. In this regard, Guyana will develop a comprehensive national disaster prevention, preparedness and response plan to help protect our people and our resources from natural and man-made disasters. The Guyana Defence Force will have an integral role in developing and giving effect to this plan.”
The President also noted that while climate change will not disappear and the world hopes that another pandemic will not occur, the GDF must always be ready for any eventuality. He reminded that most of the non-traditional threats are not unique to Guyana, and therefore the country would continue to build partnerships to “collaborate and cooperate in combating and mitigating all threats.”
Ali was however quick to assure that these new tasks would not “diminish or detract attention” from the GDF’s primary mission of protecting the country’s territorial integrity and defending its national sovereignty. “This is your Force and these are the circumstances under which you are being inducted as officers of the Guyana Defence Force. You will be expected to lead the efforts in defending our country’s territory, in protecting its national patrimony and the safety and well-being of its people; and in supporting our Caribbean brothers and sisters who may be affected by disasters.”
The 24-month course commenced with 40
students in June of 2019, but eventually ended up with 16 graduates – two from Antigua and Barbuda, two from Belize, two from St Kitts and Nevis, one from the Guyana Fire Service, one from the Guyana Prison Service, and eight from the GDF.
The graduating ranks are: Delon Abrams, Jevon Reid, Ralph Williams, Joshua Ferdinand, Carlon Warde, Roy De Younge, Seanden David-Longe, and Jeremy Charles from the GDF; Mauro Cucul and Radmon Smith from the Belize Coast Guard; Rayon Emmanuel from the Guyana Prison Service; Javid Mohamed from the Guyana Fire Service; Mario O’Flaherty and Lakeem Crosse from the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force; and Leshawn Andrews and Charles Batchelor from the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.
President Ali charged the graduates to uphold the constitution, respect the law, remain worthy of their uniforms and be prepared for life’s future eventualities through knowledge, commitment, respect and discipline, the release added.
