Some military observers have raised the question of making the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard a fully autonomous body, which would entail not only delinking it from the army, but having it governed by a civilian structure.
Military observers have noted that the Coast Guard's services are vitally important to the security of the shipping, fishing, tourism, mining, transportation sectors and the preservation and conservation of the exotic marine wildlife to ensure a viable and sustainable export trade. The Coast Guard also has a role to play in the protection of the environment with regard to oil spills, the discharge of hazard -ous waste and refuse in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Major-General Michael Atherly, in his address earlier this month when he formally handed over command of the GDF to Chief of Staff Brigadier Edward Collins, stressed the necessity for the Coast Guard to be provided with the technical resources if it is to have the flexibility for a multi-faceted role.
The observers also point out that the security of port Georgetown is vital since, as Atherly put it, marine transportation is the primary method of trade movement in and out of Guyana and the mining industry may soon produce an upsurge of commerce in the EEZ.
And the role of the Coast Guard widens even more, they say, in the light of Guyana's reservations regarding the 1990 treaty between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago delineating the marine and submarine areas which prejudices its interest. There is also the intersection of EEZs of Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago and the Cooperation Treaty be-tween Guyana and Barbados which aims for the countries to work together for the protection and cooperation of the zones where they intersect.
Overcoming shortcomings
In its report on the army, the Disciplined Forces Commission noted: "The Coast Guard has only one vessel which can sail on the high seas ie, the flagship (GDF) Essequibo, and four smaller vessels, and suffers from a one-third manpower deficit."
It is to overcome these shortcomings, the observers say that they would strongly suggest not only making the Coast Guard autonomous, but putting it under a civilian agency, which would make it easier for the government to access the resources required for it.
They explain that in-shore surveillance could be achieved by the acquisition of four fast boats, which would patrol near the estuary and in the rivers.
The present fleet of motor lifeboats, which the GDF obtained from the US Army Southern Command, is best suited for search and rescue operations but has been used for patrols. Observers see the fleet as the basis for an improved Coast Guard Search and Rescue capacity and envisage the Coast Guard becoming a main player in the future development of any national Search and Rescue agency.
Another immediate requirement is wharf facilities at the Coast Guard headquarters. The observers point out that while the area has more than adequate river frontage, the wharf facilities are poor with the result being that the four motor lifeboats have to be moored alongside the GDF Essequibo, which they say is not the best possible arrangement.
With regard to the Coast Guard's constabulary functions, the military observers say the requisite training needs to be speeded up as the Coast Guard now has to depend on the police and the Customs Administration in the discharge of some of these functions.
A constraint which needs to be addressed urgently is the skills shortage, which they observe is reflective of the situation nationally. They point out the Coast Guard has the privilege of identifying from among the recruits to the army, and from outside, those persons best suited to its requirements once they can complete the GDF basic training. Thus in the absence of the skilled personnel, it recruits persons with the basic aptitude and liking for the Coast Guard and trains them. However, the challenge the Coast Guard faces is retaining their services after they have been trained because the allowances and other incentives they are paid are far below what obtains in the private sector. One observer noted that in terms of personnel, the private sector gains more from the Coast Guard than the other way around.
To address this, Stabroek News understands that the GDF is looking at establishing a reserve unit for the Coast Guard and at having the necessary legislative amendments enacted that would require employers to release members of the reserve unit for weekend training and the annual camp.
Fishing and
cooperation
While they agree that the savings that would accrue from better policing of the country's maritime resources would more than repay the cost of doing so, observers say that it should not stop there. They point out that what is needed is an expansion of the fishing industry to exploit these resources and the striking of international agreements that would formalise the fishing by vessels from as far as Japan and Korea. But they also note the inherent difficulties of concluding such an agreement with Venezuela, whose fishing boats regularly fish illegally in Guyana waters, because of its claim to the Essequibo region.
Asked about the support mechanisms that would ensure proper attention is paid to the needs of the Coast Guard, the observers point out that a national security strategy must by definition take account of the needs of the country's economic development programme. They note the pre-occupation of the Office of the President, under which the GDF falls, on economic policy. The situation, they say, is best exemplified by the National Development Strategy which was drawn up without an input from the military.
They point out too that greater inter-agency coordination is necessary for the development of the country, particularly in the area of information technology since rapid developments in this sector require constant attention. They note that the acquisition cost of the emerging technology is cheaper, the more integrated and wider the coverage of its functions. More importantly they point out the need for a dedicated mechanism to oversee the implementation of the decisions
The Coast Guard claims that it is fulfilling its statutory mandate but the Disciplined Forces Commission said it could only be doing so relative to its existing resources.
Radar surveillance
As a consequence it recommended that funds be provided to permit regular, long- range maritime patrols as well as adequate aerial and radar surveillance resources.
This, the observers say, could be accomplished by the acquisition of a vessel that could support the GDF Essequibo in its activities in the EEZ and the acquisition of the accessories for the Chinese-built Y12 aircraft that would enable it to more effectively carry out surveillance functions.
In terms of radar, the observers say that the radar stations at Benab on the Corentyne coast and Kingston in Georgetown have not functioned for some time and these stations need to be reactivated. They point out though that the cost of the necessary equipment is very high and while some assistance in acquiring them could be obtained through the various bilateral military agreements, because of the high cost, the government would be expected to meet part of it.
They point out too that while some assistance could be provided by the Brazilian satellite, which covers the Amazon, this would not extend to the EEZ.
An alternative arrangement would be for the private sector to tap into the facilities of the international maritime organisation, which would be willing to provide some assistance to complement efforts by the government to bring its facilities up to speed.