-US to help with maintenance of coast guard vessels
President Irfaan Ali said that the GDFS Shahoud, which was commissioned yesterday, will bolster surveillance of Guyana’s waters and offer security for the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
A release from the Office of the President said that the army’s latest patrol vessel was named in honour of Colonel Michael Shahoud who perished in a helicopter crash last December.
President Ali said that naming the vessel in honour of the late Colonel was fitting, since the task of the vessel embodies his valour, dedication and unwavering service.
The 115 Defiant Monohull patrol vessel was designed and built by US-based company, Metal Shark Builds. The company has committed to working with the Coast Guard to operationalise the vessel, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.
DPI said that at yesterday’s ceremony it was disclosed that approximately US$1 million has been approved by the United States Embassy for the maintenance of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard’s vessels, along with ongoing training from the U.S. Coast Guard.
This is according to the United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, who was speaking during the commissioning ceremony yesterday.
“We just recently approved approximately US$1 million for the sustainment of the Coast Guard’s other vessels, as well as U.S. Coast Guard-provided training for Guyana. Hand in hand with the private sector, our embassy and SOUTHCOM (Southern Command) will continue to provide subject matter expertise, training, maritime-focused security cooperation, and security assistance opportunities,” she said.
The ambassador said that the US will continue to work with the government to transform Guyana’s defence and security sector to achieve collective security and regional stability.
“Together, the United States and the government of Guyana will uphold our commitment to peace and prosperity for all, and maintain this region as a zone of peace,” she added, according to DPI.
Building on this partnership, the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, revealed that discussions have been initiated by the U.S. Military Liaison’s Office to facilitate training to operate the GDFS Shahoud.
“This is being facilitated through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative platform,” he explained.
Khan emphasised the importance of partnerships for shared development. He stressed that acquiring equipment is just one piece of the puzzle. Guyana must leverage the training and experience offered by regional partners to enhance its capabilities.
“This forms an integral part of enhancing our capacity and consolidating our capability. And I must say, we have been doing just that to the point that our existing partnerships are at their highest peak in the history of our defence relations,” he stated.
