Vexing issues on agenda for Army Officers’ Conference

Feb 06, 2013 News

The recent actions by rogue elements of the Guyana Defence Force in the Cuyuni mining district is likely to be one of the major topics for discussions during this year’s Officers’ Conference, which kicks off tomorrow at Base Camp Ayanganna.
The Conference, which will be opened by His Excellency President Donald Ramotar, will see officers discussing a range of topics, most of which will focus on the Commander in Chief’s presentation.
It’s anyone’s guess what will be President Ramotar’s charge to the army, but a reliable source at the Office of the President has informed that the Head-of-State is almost certain to deal with the issue involving the recent raid on mining camps by a gang of rogue soldiers.
The source however stated that the President has been briefed on the situation and was brought up to date with the progress of the investigation.
An official at Camp Ayanganna told this newspaper yesterday that army officials have commenced the summary of evidence process which precedes possible court martial for the ranks involved.
It is alleged that two Fridays ago a gang of rogue soldiers, raided a mining community at Devil’s Hole, Cuyuni, relieved miners of their gold, and had gotten high on marijuana seized at gunpoint from dealers on the Julian Ross Landing.
The matter was reported and Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best immediately ordered an investigation, which included carrying out drug tests on the soldiers fingered in the alleged attack.
They were subsequently arrested and brought to the city where they were charged with military offences, while the police continue to probe the allegations of criminal acts.
“The GDF wishes to categorically state that any GDF ranks found culpable of this dastardly act will face the full brunt of Court Martial Proceedings or the Civil Law. Further, the Guyana Defence Force intends to ask for the maximum penalty for anyone found guilty,” the Chief of Staff had stated in a press release.
According to Commodore Best, preliminary investigations seem to suggest that some ranks had left the base without the proper authority.
He however cautioned that it was too early to determine if the ranks, who were off the base, were indeed at the location where the alleged incident took place.
This newspaper was informed that in addition to the investigative team, a Board of Inquiry led by a Lieutenant Colonel will travel to the base at Eteringbang today (Wednesday) to deal with any possible breaches of rules and regulations.
“We are sending a clear message to our ranks that we will not condone any such activities,” the army Chief of Staff told this newspaper.
In addition to the incident, the officers are also expected to discuss obvious issues such as national security and training.
Sources in the army also indicate that the vexed question of treatment of Absent Without Leave (AWOL) soldiers will form part of the discussions at the conference.
A few weeks ago the photograph of a soldier lying almost naked in a concrete cell created unwanted publicity for the GDF. And recently the army put out an advertisement in the newspaper with the photographs of several AWOL soldiers.

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Vexing issues on agenda for Army Officers’ Conference

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