GDF contingent supports Secretariat of Fifth Summit of the Americas in T&T

Feb 02, 2009 News

Three officers and seven ranks of the Guyana Defence Force are quietly, yet effectively, making their mark in the Security Division of the Secretariat of the Fifth Summit of The Americas, which is to be held in Trinidad and Tobago from April 17-19.

The GDF advance party headed by Major Ramkarran Doodnauth (fifth from left).

They are a part of a larger contingent of GDF troops which will be assisting with security arrangements during the summit.

Already, an advance party is on the island, having been flown there by the GDF Skyvan, while the full deployment will depart for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in early April.

According to the summit’s Director of Security, Trinidadian Lt Colonel Kenrick Maharaj, the work of his division is at the advanced stage, and Guyana’s support is invaluable at this time.

“It is an immense boost for us that Guyana has jumped ahead and joined our team with such swiftness. The authorities in Guyana and the Guyana Defence Force are to be commended for being so bold. They deserve an A-plus,” he said.

In relation to the Security Division’s work programme, the advance party from the GDF is involved in logistics planning, analysis and strategy development, maritime and air operations planning, and reconnaissance analysis, as well as intelligence operations information processing.

The Secretariat’s Security Division has achieved its human resource capacity, and according to Lt Colonel Maharaj, this is most likely a legacy of Cricket World Cup, for which the entire Caribbean was engaged in a massive planning and implementation exercise.

Major Ramkarran Doodnauth, who leads the GDF contingent, said that the Government and people of Guyana, and in particular the GDF, have always recognized the fact that Guyana is at one purpose with her Caribbean sister states, which is to guarantee the well-being of all Caribbean citizens.

“Our response is nothing short of an indication of our resourcefulness and readiness in that regard. Trinidad and Tobago called, and we answered swiftly. We are here to collaborate and ensure that the security provided for the Fifth Summit of The Americas in April is of the highest standard,” he said.

The advance party arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, and its work will be boosted by two platoons which are scheduled to arrive in Trinidad and Tobago some time closer to the opening of the summit.

Lt Colonel Maharaj noted that the Security Division has had commitment from other Caricom Member States, and particularly members of the Regional Security System (RSS); but, to date, no firm confirmations have been received. He explained that the Division’s work embraced several complex strategic operational and tactical issues for which planning was previously undertaken.

The Division’s resources are covering the Port Authority, Immigration, Customs, Defence Force, Airports Authority, Civil Aviation, Logistics, Intelligence and Security Communications.

In addition to the GDF contingent, the Division is having its work augmented by significant security inputs from the USA through its State Department, the Secret Service, the US Army’s Southern Command, and by Canada, Brazil and Colombia.

“It is great to be here supporting the Trinidadians in this effort,” says Corporal George Campbell. “This is a big event, and I am honoured to be a part of the GDF’s involvement here. It’s all work, and we have to deliver,” he said.

“The Trinidadians are great hosts,” said Staff Sergeant Ray Herman.

“We are comfortable both at our accommodations within the T&T Defence Force and also here at the Secretariat. We are here to do a job, and we will do it to the best of our ability,” he confidently stated.

In the past, the Guyana Defence Force had responded with a high degree of professionalism to many situations in several sister Caribbean states which had suffered one tragedy or another.