`I want those weapons recovered’-- President tells GDF head
By Neil Marks
Guyana Chronicle
December 7, 2006
FACED with the murder of a young cadet officer and the disappearance of high-powered weapons from its main headquarters, President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday weighed in on the need for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to resolve these matters and for errant officers to be punished.
“Chief of Staff, I want those weapons recovered,” President Jagdeo, Commander-in-Chief of the Disciplined Forces, told Brigadier General Edward Collins, referring to the 30 AK-47 rifles which were discovered stolen from Army headquarters, Camp Ayanganna, in February this year.
He was speaking at the same Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown where he commissioned 18 members of the GDF, three officers of the Guyana Police Force, one officer of the Guyana Fire Service, one officer of the Guyana Prison Service and four members of the Belize Armed Forces as second lieutenants.
The course, Standard Officers Course # 39, commenced with 34 officers, but seven discontinued for various reasons.
One of them, cadet officer Amar Rajkumar, was murdered, Brigadier General Collins had said after a post mortem examination was conducted.
Rajkumar died on April 11. It was found that he died from a blow to the back of his head and investigations have not yet been completed.
President Jagdeo said the truth regarding his death needs to be told through an impartial process, in honour of the slain officer and his family.
The President lashed out at officers who continue to stain the image of the GDF and the Disciplined Forces, stating that their behaviour has been inconsistent with the statutes of “honour and dignity” which should guide their profession.
He said whether in or out of uniform, the public should see them as upright and they must be respectful and dignified in conduct.
The President commended the military for its cooperation with the other Disciplined Forces, particularly the Police, in the fight against crime.
He said the Joint Services operations will continue as long as his government sees these necessary.
Mr. Jagdeo noted that recent successes have won praise from the public, but he said the fight must be continued to eradicate the threats of narco-trafficking and criminal gangs.
A great deal, he said, remains to be done in removing criminal gangs and dismantling their “infrastructure”, adding that this needs to be accomplished if the security of the state is to be guaranteed.
`UNCOVER CRIMINAL HIDEOUTS’
Mr. Collins, in a message to the newly commissioned ranks, said the Joint Services have to be on watch and ready, “as we know the criminals have more plans.”
“We must uncover criminal hideouts,” he said, and told the young officers they will be sent out, warning that they would face grave danger “in order to establish peace that allows thousands around this country to live in liberty and to grow to prosperity.”
Mr. Jagdeo said the Joint Services face the challenge of providing for the security of next year’s Cricket World Cup in Guyana and their role would be of providing a “safe and secure climate.”
He said the government would continue to provide resources to the GDF so that it can meet the challenges of protecting the nation’s territorial integrity and internal security as well.
In the special awards given out to students of the course, 2nd Lt. Budeshwar Persaud, 19, was adjudged Best Student and received four other awards. He received the Sword of Honour, the award for best military knowledge and the Brazilian and Venezuelan Armed Forces prizes.
Persaud said the course was both physically and mentally challenging, yet it was one of the most rewarding endeavours he had ever undertaken.
“It has taught me a lot about being a good leader, a team player and to make the best of every opportunity presented to me,” he stated.
The GDF began training its own officer cadets in 1969 and this made way for the establishment of the first Officer Cadet School in the English-speaking Caribbean.
It became known as the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School.