Army denies officers unhappy over President's criticism
Stabroek News
January 29, 2003
The Guyana Defence Force last night denied a report in yesterday's edition of Stabroek News that senior officers were unhappy over President Bharrat Jagdeo's criticism of the force's crime-fighting tactics.
A release from Camp Ayanganna described the story as "speculative". However, this newspaper stands by the story which was based on information from several sources within the army who had access to the meeting. Prior to its publication, Stabroek News read the story to one of the army's senior officers who did not refute it.
The GDF release stated that during Monday's meeting with Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Michael Atherly, "a number of issues related to the administration and management of the force, including the maintenance of the morale of serving members were discussed. The Chief-of-Staff also took the opportunity to issue a rallying call, noting that it was more necessary now to hold such sessions with subordinates in light of the criminal situation that tore at the very fabric of the society."
The army further stated that the Chief-of-Staff also encouraged his officers to continue to uphold the Constitution and to avoid the many distractions that have the potential to affect operational efficiency and cohesion.
According to the statement, the suggestion in yesterday's report that there was a departure from the "established forms of military culture and practice may have unwittingly led to public alarm in an already charged environment."
The President last week ordered a major rethink of tactics by both the police and army in light of their failure to combat crime and was particularly critical of the GDF's handling of recent incidents.
