COLONEL Chabilall Ramsaroop, Commander, First Infantry Battalion of Guyana Defence Force (GDF), said Saturday that the local army is continuing to make a name for itself in the Caribbean.

"We are being respected and recognised as top notch..." he reported after the Guyanese soldiers emerged victorious from among 13 nations at this year's regional `Exercise Tradewinds' held in Trinidad and Tobago from April 19 to May 4.

Jamaica and Barbados placed second and third, respectively, in the competition that is staged annually to allow for coordination and networking of the security forces of the Region, in preparation for eventualities.

The Regional Security System (RSS) was born out of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts/Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Saint Lucia, United States and Trinidad and Tobago, to provide mutual support for each other.

Each can render assistance to another to meet any threat or emergency as occurred when Trinidad and Tobago faced a hostage crisis some 11 years ago.

On their return Saturday, the Guyanese champion troops were warmly greeted and congratulated at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, before being entertained at Camp Stephenson, also at Timehri.

The GDF contingent, which comprised five officers and 81 other ranks, left in three batches between April 19-23. The first, of one officer and 34 soldiers, went to Puerto Rico on April 19 and participated in preparatory training for the final stage in Trinidad and Tobago.

They were part of the CARICOM Battalion in Trinidad and Tobago.

The second group, of two officers and 28 other ranks departed for Trinidad and Tobago on April 23 and were amongst the opposing forces for the exercise while the third (Coast Guard type), of one officer and nine subordinates, left for Trinidad and Tobago the same day to take part in the Maritime Phase of Tradewinds.

All were given seven days off duty and Colonel Ramsaroop promised another incentive for their good showing.

"You have done very well... Things like these make we, the Guyana Defence Force, feel very proud. You have done exceedingly well and you are excellent ambassadors for Guyana," he said to them.

Major Wilbert Lee was Second in Command, CARICOM Battalion, responsible for coordinating and organising for the effective and efficient discharge its functions and responsibility during Tradewinds 2001.

He disclosed that the three modules, conducted primarily in Puerto Rico, dealt with peacekeeping, platoon and squad manoeuvres/tactics and firing with personal weapons.

"We performed to expectations and even beyond that of the armies of the CARICOM nations," Lee asserted. He, however, acknowledged that it was a challenging exercise and, though there were varying levels of training and equipment used, the GDF personnel were able to operate as a unified bunch.

Lee said the leadership of Lieutenant Andy Pompey, who was in charge of the Guyana Platoon in the March and Shoot Competition, was exemplary.

Pompey, himself, noted that the superiority and skills of the Guyanese caused them to easily outdo the other teams in this fifteenth of the series which commenced in 1986.

The GDF was involved in all to date and had won the `Run and Shoot' contest in 1999 when the training took place in this country.