Army still awaiting word on recapitalisation
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) remains optimistic about its recapitalisation though it is yet to be informed when the necessary equipment would be made available. Army spokesman, Capt Wycliffe McAllister, in an invited comment on an article in the September 24, Sunday Stabroek headlined 'Rohee reiterates government's intention to recapitalise the army', told Stabroek News that the army was optimistic about its recapitalisation but was awaiting word on when certain short-term measures would be put in place. However, he said that the army high command remained confident that its troops were well trained and equal to the task of maintaining the country's territorial integrity. The skills level of the GDF Coast Guard, he said, was at the highest they had ever been. Also, Capt Mc Allister emphasised that the army had no doubt about the patriotism of its troops and their willingness to defend the country. Capt Mc Allister also commented on articles in this newspaper on the Scotsburg incident where Surinamese soldiers intruded into Guyana's territory. In the reports it was noted that there was a GDF presence at Benab five miles away from where the incident took place on August 25. The Surinamese soldiers were attempting to detain and arrest a passenger boat which had eluded two Surinamese patrol boats in crossing the Corentyne River. The soldiers had fired warning shots at crowd of villagers who had gathered at the scene of the incident in an effort to get them to disperse. Mc Allister observed that in the absence of the necessary equipment, the army could not be aware of every incident which occurred up or down river from its post unless informed, or stumbling upon it on one of its scheduled patrols. For high seas patrol the Coast Guard relies on a fishing company which makes one of its trawlers available to the GDF for such exercises. About the $800 million allocation announced by the government earlier this month for the army, Capt McAllister confirmed that the amount related to its budgetary allocation for this year.
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