Missing GDF guns probe leaves much to be desired
-- Luncheon
Guyana Chronicle
January 22, 2007
THE progress of investigations into the disappearance of a large quantity of arms from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) early last year, has been described by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, as “a damning indictment” of the way in which the Army and the Joint Services have been discharging this responsibility to Guyanese.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Luncheon told his regular post-Cabinet news briefing last week that the disappearance of the guns “for want of a better word, is distressing”.
The inability of law enforcement agencies to bring closure and identify those who are responsible for this criminal act, he indicated, leaves much to be desired.
However, the agency said, he commended the actions of GDF Chief-of-Staff Brigadier General Edward Collins in the matter.
“He has acted quite properly on a number of occasions to register the Army’s condemnation, and what their intentions are”, Luncheon said.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, at the annual Soldiers’ Day observance last month, said no stone should be left unturned in the apprehension of the perpetrator(s), noting, “When Brazil’s military lost a few weapons, they went into Sao Paulo in full force to recover them. The honour and credibility of the army were at stake. This investigation should go wherever the trail leads, and no person or institution should be shielded from scrutiny.”
The President, who was at the time addressing a large gathering of Army personnel, said, “I am taking a lot of flak for giving a bonus to the Army this year…from next year this decision will be based on performance, so I am giving you one year’s notice.”
Members of the Disciplined Services received a bonus equivalent to one month’s salary for the Christmas holidays, costing the administration $250M.
GINA said Luncheon, while imploring the public to be understanding as it relates to the progress of the investigations into the missing GDF guns, said, “We have spent tremendous sums of money dedicated to the Joint Services investigative teams, and would want you to believe that no stone will be left unturned. Wherever, however, whatever has to be done will surely be done to get those weapons back into the hands of the law enforcement agencies.”
The GDF said 30 high-powered AK-47 rifles and five pistols disappeared from a bond in its Camp Ayanganna headquarters in Georgetown during early 2006.
Several have been recovered but most remain missing.