Latest update June 15th, 2026 12:09 AM
Granger was too junior in 1973
Dear Mr. Editor
I wish to respond to the remarks of Mark Archer in his letter to Kaieteur News, dated April 19, 2011- “Those who served in the GDF should stand up and set the record straight”. Mark made an appeal to those who might have served in the GDF at that time to set the record straight about David Granger’s participation in the GDF operations during the election.
I am as frustrated as Mark is, with the lack of responses by the citizenry of Guyana, in general, to the indignities being perpetrated on the Guyanese people, by the PPP regime. Moreover, as a citizen who served in the military with honor from 1968 to 1980, and who was operationally deployed in 1973, I take Mark’s observation personally. I have to thank him for provoking my sense of pride and dignity. Mark, thank you for lighting a fire in my belly!
I do believe that if David Granger is being attacked like this, after adequate evidence of distinguished military service ; after sacrificing his youth in service to the nation, – then so are all the men and women who have served in the military with pride , discipline and integrity.
So politics aside, it is a brazen, egregious, dishonorable and ill-advised call for anyone to make ….. and worse, if made by one’s commander-in-chief.
For what my testimony is worth, I wish to state quite unequivocally and publicly that David Granger was a disciplined officer who always performed with distinction. In his career he was never associated with anything improper, unethical or unbecoming of an officer, to the best of my knowledge.
With regard to the events in question he was far removed from having any operational role by virtue of his appointment and location at the time. Even if he was more closely involved, he was too junior to make major decisions. I had to know because I was always involved in the internal security operations of the GDF, and during the elections in 1973, I was deployed as a platoon commander in Georgetown. This is a reflection and not an explanation to the false accusers. No explanation is warranted or deserved.
I also wish to state that it is with some reluctance that I make these comments, because while I have great respect for David Granger and am in full support of his bid to be President, I have not been inclined to air my thoughts in the newspapers.
Also, I did not wish to do the false accusers a favor by keeping this gross allegation alive, making it an issue. A genuine issue it is not!
The real issue here is not about David Granger and his candidacy; it is about gross disrespect by an uncultured regime towards the past and currently serving men and women of the great institution of the GDF.
When the GDF was respected and being given its due, a serving and accomplished major of the army would not be unceremoniously and unjustly dunked into the sordid Lot 12 Durban Street jail , based on spurious charges. And his wife as well ? What? For good measure, mix in a retired Lt. Colonel. That equals “mucho” disrespect, unabashed insult and a lot of injury.
Admittedly, it is prudent politics to attempt to impugn an opposition candidate, but
it is ill-advised and counter productive to impugn an honorable institution.
It can also be a good diversionary tactic in a pseudo-democratic society, where misdemeanors and treason are easily interwoven, and where daily robberies, unsolved murders, government corruption and drug lords prevail.
There can be little justice, peace, security or free and democratic responses, where the threat to your family, and/or your job or your business, could be imperiled with impunity. I can understand the silence of the Guyanese people in this brutally suffocating atmosphere.
But I have great confidence in the integrity and character of the men and women who I served with, a few regrettable exceptions aside.
I have confidence that they are in support of David Granger to the hilt for his courage and vision. They have not, and will not abandon him.
We have an honorable and distinguished candidate, a good man, a family man, an outstanding academic, an accomplished military officer, an intelligent, honest and qualified leader, propositioning Guyanese with the offer of” a good life”.
I therefore urge the people of Guyana to rally-”Rally round the flag, people”.
Ian C. Fraser
Former Major of the GDF
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