In the feature address at the opening of the Army's Annual Officers Conference yesterday in the Officers Mess at the GDF Camp Ayanganna headquarters, the President also criticised the media for focusing on what he termed sensationalism and not the pertinent issues, including the proposal to establish six commissions, among them the Human Rights and Ethnic Relations commissions.

The conference was held under the theme `Defending Sovereignty, Promoting Peace and Economic Development' and among those at the opening were Secretary to the Defence Board, Dr. Roger Luncheon; Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Michael Atherly; his Second-in-Command, Colonel Edward Collins; Heads of the other Disciplined Services; members of the Defence Board and senior and junior GDF Officers.

The President said he is not satisfied that the resources allocated to the Army are utilised to the maximum.

The Army, he said, must ensure that these resources are used to patrol the country's Exclusive Economic Zone to enforce some of the maritime agreements concluded with the United States and defend the territorial integrity of the country, as well as safeguard the maritime resources.

To this end, the Coastguard Unit which has the responsibility of patrolling the country's borders and waterways, was called on to ensure that the huge investment which the Government has plugged into it, is utilised to its maximum.

Additionally, he pointed out, the Army has skilled personnel who could help the State in various areas.

He suggested that the Engineering Corps, for example, could expand its services from just within the military itself.

According to Mr. Jagdeo, the expertise of the Engineering Corps could be extended to public works within the developmental sector, to oversee and ensure that some are done properly, because many contractors have been ripping the country off.

Also singled out was the Army's skill in the field of surveying, which President Jagdeo said could enhance the operations of the Lands and Surveys Commission, if Guyana is to move forward on a proactive land development policy.

On the issue of civilian law and enforcement and Police-military cooperation that Brigadier Atherly referred to in his opening remarks, the President said that while he is extremely pleased with what is going on at that level, there is need for more institutionalising.

He admitted seeing collaboration in the level of operations in the search for the five February 23 prison escapees in the area of intelligence between the Army and the Police, but said training programmes now need to be developed, as a joint effort of the military and law enforcements agencies, so that the efforts can be better coordinated.

Mr. Jagdeo said he would like to see formulated standard training modules in the Joint Services - modules for Army and Police training to deal with smuggling, narco-trafficking, armed criminals and civil disaster.

President Jagdeo also briefed the conference on Guyana's relations with Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela.

He noted that Guyana has over the last year been developing stronger ties with Brazil, pointing out that that relationship is at an all time high with engagements at several levels - the private sector, within the Government at various departmental levels, the military, the Police, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry responsible for Foreign Trade.

President Jagdeo expressed the hope that the level of the relationship is maintained during a proposed visit by Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso here in July.

He said Guyana is also working to resolve the longstanding border issue with Suriname at the bilateral level and in good faith, noting there is a bilateral agreement between the two countries to do so.

Noting a remark by Atherly about "marking time on some issues", the President assured that this was not so, pointing out that while it is hoped that the bilateral process is in place to come up with a resolution to some of those issues, Guyana nevertheless must be prepared to explore other options, if those are not yielding the desired results.

He said the situation with Venezuela remains the same and is in the hands of the United Nations Good Officer process and efforts are being made to have this revitalised.

He referred to an existing communique agreed on following meetings between the Foreign Ministers of Guyana and Venezuela, which outlines areas where the two sides can work towards seeking to resolve the controversy.

He added that Guyana's lobbying effort on the international level is on great form and pointed to developments at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Australia where the communiqué made mention of the Guyana/Venezuela controversy.

The meeting had also noted the need for Guyana to develop the Essequibo region and the heads expressed their full support for such ventures and against any efforts by Venezuela to thwart any such move, he added.

In his welcome and opening remarks Brigadier Atherly urged that the Army must not only help to fix today's problems, but must "anticipate and prepare for what tomorrow might bring".

Noting that resources are tight and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future, he said the fulfillment of the Army's basic capital needs should continue at the best possible rate consistent with the state of the national economy.

That, he said, is a critical issue that affects the operational readiness and deployment capabilities of the GDF.

Atherly highlighted some areas he said called for some hard decisions, including:

** continuing to build on the existing defence policy which will require setting and maintaining a coherent strategy for the Army's future development by setting priorities and key long-term objectives, as well as short-term goals and targets;

** maximising strategic partnership with other Government agencies, the Disciplined Services, private industry and national academic institutions which includes training, producing and making available, increased numbers of highly skilled and well disciplined persons to the rest of the society;

** use of excess capacity of the Air Corps to help reduce the cost of air transportation to the interior should not conflict with, but rather complement the efforts of private industry, as the mining and forestry sectors would be quick to support this view;

** continue to nurture pride in the Guyana Defence Force because at the heart of each and every national institution concerned with internal security must be the citizen as both the reason for the institution, as well as the institution's greatest asset;

** improve resource stewardship, in particular strike the right balance between spending to maintain current operations and the investment in infrastructure and equipment, needed to prepare for emerging and future challenges.

Atherly contended too that the Army must be adaptive and innovative and seize opportunities provided by available information technology and new management practices.