Jagdeo announces tax-free bonus for joint services
-to be performance based from next year
Stabroek News
December 22, 2006
Smartly turned out soldiers standing at attention for the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Members of the Guyana Defence Force have been assured that they will receive their now traditional tax-free bonus this year, but from next year it would be based on performance.
President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking yesterday at the annual Base Camp Ayanganna Soldiers' Day celebration told members of the GDF that he had received a lot of flak for giving the $250M bonus when the biggest loss of arms suffered by the GDF occurred during this year, hence the stance that he now has to take on performance-driven bonuses.
"From next year whatever I have to give will be based on performance. You are not going to lose 31 AKs and get a bonus," Jagdeo told the soldiers and their officers.
Stating that he is not a rubber stamp, and noting that the loss of the AK-47s was an embarrassment to the army's leadership including the Chief of Staff Edward Collins and himself as Commander-in-Chief, Jagdeo said the month's bonus would also be extended to the Fire, Police and Prison services.
He made reference to the loss of eight AK-47s by the Brazilian military that led to the launch of a big operation in that country. Jagdeo stated that in their case it was not only about the loss of the weapons, but the honour of the military was at stake. He therefore hoped that the GDF would seek to reverse the loss it suffered last February.
President Bharrat Jagdeo (on dais) taking the salute at yesterday's Soldiers' Day event at Camp Ayanganna
He said investigators should go wherever the trail took them because the missing weapons must be recovered and he hoped the Chief of Staff would restore honour to the institution. "From time to time I would criticize the military, not my overall support of the military but aspects of its operations," Jagdeo said, noting this support was evident in the increased budgetary allocations for the armed forces.
The Commander-in-Chief said his presence at the annual Soldiers' Day celebrations has become a tradition that he enjoys as it allows for him to spend some time with soldiers even if it is only for a few minutes.
Jagdeo implored the soldiers to spend every day in the force preparing for life after they leave so that they can become productive citizens. He encouraged them to commit to improving themselves in 2007.
Army personnel were also commended for their contribution to the smooth running off of national elections during which time the country has "broken the cycle of violence coming out of elections. The disciplined forces played a big role and the military gave a great account of itself on that day."
The President also announced that his present focus on turning Guyana around by applying the use of information technology was also relevant to the army. "I want every soldier to be computer literate in the next two years," Jagdeo told the soldiers.
He also took time out to remind them that Guyana is concluding its chairing of the International Monetary Fund's Board of Governors stint which was a good one and has led to the country being offered the opportunity to host the meeting of Finance Ministers next year. In addition, next month the country would be hosting the Rio Group and later in the year the Cricket World Cup, the world's third largest sporting event.
He also mentioned the country's growing international image in the light of Guyana being a part of the South American integration group. He also made note of Guyana's initiation of the maritime hearings with Suriname whose successful conclusion would mean continued exploration for oil.
Collins, in his address, which had preceded the President's, mainly extended greetings to personnel at army headquarters Base Camp Ayanganna, as he had done at Base Camp Stephenson the previous day, on behalf of himself and family while making special mention of the civilian workers who he said were left out of last year's celebrations.
He again spoke of the challenges faced by the military during the year but noted that the force stood up in face of adversity and "remained steadfast".
The Chief of Staff reminded his charges of the necessity of them looking out for the less fortunate such as shut-ins and the homeless so as to maintain the true spirit of the season for Guyanese to "make the holiday one of celebration for all."
(Christopher Yaw)