Secure, stable environment will continue unabated
By Dale Andrews
Kaieteur News
March 9, 2007
Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Edward Collins, has promised to ensure that the secure and stable security environment that was created last year continues unabated.
Speaking yesterday at Camp Ayanganna during the opening of this year's Annual Army Officers' Conference, which is being held under the theme, “Staying resolutely on course to enhance national security and development”, Brigadier Collins stressed to his officers that this will be achieved by the continued execution of operations on land and maritime spectrums, given the evolving role of the military within recent times.
“Just as how we remained undaunted in 2006 by the theft of our weapons, and strove manfully to recover them while at the same time maintaining stability, so it is that we will continue this year to prosecute operations to ensure that high-profile security activities, such as the Cricket World Cup 2007, take place in a climate that is free from fear.”
His sentiments were echoed by Commander in Chief, President Bharrat Jagdeo who, in his feature address, alluded to the changing role of the military within the past decades.
The Guyanese leader noted that, for example, since the end of the Cold War, there has been a reduction of the traditional inter-state conflicts in Latin America .
He noted that during the Cold War period, there was a big arms race in a region that could not have afforded such luxuries.
“Since then, the military and the policy makers have been looking at an evolving role for the military. We find that there are many changes now aimed at modernising the military, professionalising the army, increasing female participation, and more importantly, moving into non-traditional nation building roles that often overlap with law enforcement.”
He noted that, in several regional countries, there is overwhelming public support for the military approach and military involvement in crime fighting.
He pointed to the case of neighbouring Brazil where, in 2004, President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva deployed over 5,000 troops into the slums of Rio de Janiero to fight what was then a spiralling urban violence.
“If this was twenty years back, I think that you would have had a huge upsurge from the society about the role of the military on the streets and fighting crime.”
The President recalled that concern was raised about the heavy military presence on the streets.
“I think that the international community was happy, because of the stability and the peace that reigned on that day. So there is a growing feeling that the military should partner the Police in fighting crime, and we in Guyana have done that excellently through the Joint Services' efforts,” the Guyanese leader stressed.
Referring to the recently concluded Rio Summit, President Jagdeo said that it was possibly the largest gathering of Latin leaders in the region, and Guyana was able to successfully host it.
“I want to thank the Joint Services for the hard work they did during this period. I did not have any doubt, because I know the quality of our people. Many of the leaders said to me privately that the arrangements here were first-class.” This statement received resounding applause from the officers.
During his address, the Chief of Staff assured that the Army will continue its operational planning and execution within the framework of the joint operations with sister law enforcement agencies since, he said, it is becoming increasingly evident that the GDF would not be allowed to operate in a vacuum.
He noted that the operational planning and executions of the army must rest on a number of assumptions, such as the existence of the rule of law, freedom of information, human rights and free press.
Collins said that during the past year, the GDF focused more on the subsidiary role of internal security than the primary role of the military, border defence.
This, he said, was marked by an extremely operational tempo, occasioned by the theft of several weapons from the Headquarters, Camp Ayanganna .
He pointed to ‘Operation Ferret' and its subsidiary, ‘Operation Centipede', which is the longest operation ever conducted by the Joint Services - both launched to recover the stolen weapons.
“But it is worth every ounce of our operational energy and efforts. Operating primarily out of Buxton, it has brought a dramatic change to the security landscape of that village once known only as the haven of bandits,” the Chief of Staff said.
Additionally, out of ‘Operation Ferret', another operation was conducted by the Joint Services in response to the robberies committed on two commercial banks in Rose Hall Town , Corentyne, Berbice, resulting in the recovery of a large portion of the stolen money and eight of the missing army weapons.
This operation, Collins said, flowed into the unprecedented ‘Operation Plexus', which ensured that there was a safe and secure environment within the period from the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament to the Sitting of the Ninth Parliament, during which time the National and Regional Elections were held.
This operation was followed by ‘Operation Dragnet', which lasted for nine days, for the recapture of nine prisoners who had escaped from the Mazaruni Prisons.
And finally, ‘Operation Southern Cone', which catered to the just concluded Rio Summit.
“All of this is testimony to the hard work of the Joint Services. But all of this would be set at nought if we do not recover our weapons,” Brigadier Collins asserted.
The army head stressed that the recovery of the weapons must remain on the GDF's operational radar.
The intelligence, he said, must accelerate its rebuilding process to develop new operatives, having suffered from a nasty blow to its clandestine efforts and a serious dent to its collection plan.
“We must continue to use whatever means available to us. That's an order… and recovering those weapons, being the end, must justify the means. You have my word that I am not the one to be questioning means, once the weapons are recovered,” the Chief of Staff said.
He noted that, during the past year, there was a growing cohesiveness among the Joint Services evolving from a point of operational effectiveness.
“Sticking together, therefore, is not only useful, it is a national security imperative. Because jointness is an imperative that naturally flows out of the reality of scarce resources, I believe it is here to stay. Whether there are negating factors endogenous to the Joint Services, or exogenous influences acting on our togetherness, nothing must be allowed to fracture this relationship.”
According to the army boss, training within the GDF had to be truncated, but in spite of the numerous operations conducted, the objectives set were all achieved.
This, he said, is noteworthy because, with the operational accomplishments, there is the tendency to take for granted the robust and effective system of military education and training.
This year, the army's training focus will be upgrading of the professional military education of all officers and other ranks, and according to the Chief of Staff, this will be done both externally and internally.
He said that, this year, the GDF's internal training efforts will be redoubled and it will continue to provide training for ranks from the Joint Services as well as from other Caricom Defence Forces with whom the local army has enjoyed excellent bilateral relations.
“Already the Belize , Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda Defence Forces have requested a total of ten places on the Standard Officers' Course 40, among other all-arms courses programmed for this year. An important aspect of this year's training calendar will be a jungle training exercise for the entire Force,” Collins said.
He explained that training will not only seek to enhance the professional military education of all ranks, but it will also continue to focus on uplifting their academic levels.
To this end, the GDF will continue its subscription to training at local academic institutions such as the University of Guyana, the Government Technical Institute, the Guyana School of Agriculture, and the Cyril Potter College of Education, which, the Brigadier said, offers positive proof that, as an institution, the GDF does not seek to draw a line of demarcation between the thinking officer and soldier and the fighting officer and soldier.
Brigadier Collins noted that this year holds the promise of a very exciting one for the nation as a whole, and the GDF will continue to provide the vanguard service that it has traditionally given to ensure that an enabling security climate is provided for the nation's aspirations to be realised.
“If the GDF's performance during the year under review is anything to go by, then we can conclude with pride and confidence that we are staying resolutely on course to enhance national security and development,” the Chief of Staff said.