GDF monitoring weapons stocks in interior
Stabroek News
November 24, 2002
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has intensified visits to border locations as efforts continue to ensure that there is accurate record keeping of its stocks.
This disclosure came in the wake of Stabroek News' queries on Friday about the 449 rounds of ammunition that could not be accounted for last September at the army's Lethem base.
Alluding to the missing ammunition, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Pompey told this newspaper that both the preliminary investigation and subsequent verification done by the army's Audit and Inspection Department did not uncover any evidence to suggest criminal or malicious intent.
"What it did prove was that the last two officers stationed at that location were less than thorough, in terms of the accounting," Pompey stated. The last officer in charge of the Lethem base, Second Lieutenant William King, was stripped of his rank earlier this month and discharged dishonourably from the GDF for abandoning his location. He is currently serving a four-month jail term. The officer before him was also dismissed from the force several months ago.
It was during the time King abandoned his post that checks by an army high-level team discovered the irregularity.
Pompey further explained that while no problems were reported with regard to the frontline stocks of ammunition at Lethem, the ledgers that were used for the accounting of the training ammunition were not properly kept.
"The Audit and Inspection found that the ammunition that was not found was expended largely for training, with a minimal amount used [without authorisation] for game hunting. The empty casings recovered attest to the expenditure of the bulk of this ammunition for routine training."
The officer maintained that systems are in place for proper accounting, but said that it is the duty of the commanding officers to ensure that these procedures are followed.
"The systems are there...[but] there was a failure of the officers to perform their functions."
To ensure that this is done, Pompey said, the army has stepped up checks on border locations. (Kim Lucas)
