Hold the beef
GIHA offers army help with Indian diet
Stabroek News
February 3, 2004
The Guyana Indian Heritage Association (GIHA) has offered to help the army meet the dietary needs of Indian recruits.
"The (Guyana Defence Force) may well have a level of sensitivity to the diet and religious requirements of Indian recruits," President Ryhaan Shah writes in a letter to army Chief-of-Staff, Briga-dier Michael Atherly. "How-ever, GIHA is willing to offer advice and help in areas that the army thinks could be helpful in ensuring the full comfort of these recruits."
GIHA's letter comes in the wake of the army's most recent recruitment drive, which GIHA says it will support by urging Indians to join. It could not be confirmed whether the letter was received by Brigadier Atherly.
Shah says that in discussions with Indian soldiers there is conflicting evidence as to the comfort level that the army offers them. For example, she notes that some non-vegetarian soldiers have said the vegetarian diets are adequate. But vegetarians say that all a vegetarian diet means is whatever is on the table without meat, meaning that a protein substitute for meat is not provided.
However Shah points out that if vegetarians are not provided with a well-balanced, nutritious diet they might eventually resign because of weakness, ill health or frustration.
Shah says GIHA has also received differing reports about the GDF's appreciation and understanding of the religious holy days and observations of Hindu and Muslim recruits. She notes too that stories abound of harassment and discrimination toward Indians.
She has asked for an assurance that there are investigative procedures and disciplinary measures in place for any harassment or discrimination based on ethnicity.
GIHA has also written to the Minister of Home Affairs, requesting the establishment of a support centre to provide help, advice and encouragement to Indian and other minority recruits including Amerindians.
The GDF is one of the disciplined services that is being reviewed by the Disciplined Forces Commission, which will make recommendations to the National Assembly for their reform and sustained professional development. The Commission's interim report on the Guyana Police Force is currently before the Assembly.
GIHA had made similar representations before the commission in relation to the Guyana Police Force. The commission in its report did recommend that the dietary and religious needs of Indo-Guyanese should be catered for.
It also said that whatever non-exclusionary innovative practices are implemented must be made public for the information of the Indian community.