The right to work, to serve, and to live in peace and tranquility

Dec 13, 2009 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

By Raphael Trotman
AFC Leader

As a citizen of Guyana and as Leader of a parliamentary opposition party, I believe that I have both a right and a duty to comment on issues concerning our security forces as I have been doing in the past.
Not so long ago I made an open appeal to the heads of the disciplined services to search within themselves and to find the resolve to confront and exorcise the demon that has possessed their ranks. Since then there were the incidents of Dweive Ramdass and Ricky Jainarine to name a few, and of course, the torturing of Twyon Thomas.
Not a day goes by now without us reading of another rank of the police force, or army, being involved in robbery, fuel smuggling, rape or some such incident that really causes us to wonder what has gone wrong.
Some may want to say that the AFC is too critical of the men and women in uniform and are unpatriotic and demoralizing in our words and actions. This is furthest from the truth. It is because we care that we chastise, and it is because we care that we celebrate when there are worthwhile accomplishments. As the end of the year closes in it is pellucid that something urgent and immediate has to be done if there is to the restoration of at least a semblance of confidence in the security forces that the nation so desperately needs at this time.
Recently, the army brought credit to itself when it conducted the recovery mission for Aliya Bulkan’s body at Kaieteur. Our Special Forces demonstrated that they were prepared to rise above the odds and challenges, and carry out a dangerous mission as ordered. We commend them and urge that all officers and ranks, of all the services, look to this accomplishment as an example of how to perform against the odds.
This operation was important from a national point of view for many reasons: 1) the national symbolism of the Kaieteur Falls demanded that the spectre of death which threatened to hang there indefinitely had to be removed; 2) the restoration of hope to thousands of anxious and confused youth was critical; 3) the need to provide closure to the grieving family was imperative; and 4) there was a desperate need for the GDF to regain the initiative, and present the face of a wholesome national institution.
All of these objectives, and possibly more, were met then. However, the spark of hope created by the brave actions of Captain Sheldon Howell and his squad from 31 Special Forces was quickly hidden under bushel by his colleagues who have since gone on to engage in fuel smuggling, robbery, and even rape. And so we end the year with the security forces facing greater ignominy than ever. Perhaps not since the days of ballot box movement has the military in particular been so hard pressed to win public opinion and support.
Undoubtedly, the services draw their ranks from the wider pool that society offers up to them. It is understandable therefore when from time to time we identify, within the ranks, misfits and others who bring shame and dishonour by carrying on with their lawlessness while wearing the state’s uniform. On the other hand, it can be argued that because these are disciplined forces, we expect that the waywardness brought by the joining recruit is quickly stamped out and replaced by a disciplined and professional rank.
The errant and lawless rank that was the exception in the not too distant past now appears to have become the norm. There is now a widely held view that the services are corrupt and unprofessional. This is an insult to those men and women in uniform who continue to labour and to perform above and beyond the call of duty.
The forces, and particular the GDF, needs a transformation, or perhaps a reorientation back into its traditional role of safeguarding the territorial integrity of Guyana and preserving the good order and of the state. It may be sheer coincidence, but the incidence of solders getting into trouble with civilians seems to be directly linked to the time when they were called to play more of a policing role in hunting criminals. Something went awfully wrong as a Frankenstein seems to have been created.
In these circumstances, there is justification for those in government, the opposition, and the public to advocate for a restructuring of the Joint Services at all levels; as a means of purging the different branches of the rogue elements that are within. However I hasten to highlight that any action taken to achieve such an objective must not be used as an opportunity, or excuse, to rid the services of good, skilled, professional and patriotic ranks functioning at all levels, but particularly, in the command structures.
In carrying out the purge, the AFC insists that the baby must not be thrown out with the bath water and that those who may not be considered as being faithful or subservient to the “government” will find themselves axed.
Just last Saturday at the University of Guyana’s Annual Convocation, Ms. Loria–Mae Heywood frontally stated that graduates like her will only stay in Guyana if there are well paying jobs and a “responsive and responsible government” to provide the environment to allow their talent to be nurtured.
In these times when 86% of our trained, educated young people only see their future outside of these shores, we must salute the 14% that remains, and are prepared to accept leadership roles and responsibility, and to dedicate their energy in defence of their country and the maintenance of law and order.
The AFC will regard any attempt to frustrate and make life difficult for these committed officers and ranks, as a form of “cleansing” that will not be condoned. It is time that we alert those in charge that this nation owes ever decent, law-abiding citizen the right to work, to serve, and to live in peace and tranquility as is guaranteed by our constitution.