GDF Coast Guard celebrates 23 years

Mar 01, 2013 News

– Aims at strengthening organisational services

As the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard celebrates 23 years in existence, it has embarked on several programmes to strengthen organisational services.
According to Commander Gary Beaton, who made the disclosure at the Anniversary church service yesterday, three metal shark aluminum boats have been procured through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) to help tackle the growing issue of piracy and random attacks occurring in open waters.
Apart from that, the associated training in boat handling, communication, logistics and maintenance have also been highlighted as measures being put in place by the Coast Guard. Another major undertaking the organization is embarking on is “the return of the GDFS Essequibo to 100% seaworthiness”.
“This programme is designed for us to work alongside the Brazilian Navy so as to improve our competence. Importantly, it was designed to test individuals, teams and eventually the entire ship’s company competence.”
These programmes, the Commander highlighted, would only be successful by hard work, dedication and the desire to fulfill the mission of the Coast Guard.
“It will require a commitment to serve from all our officers and ratings.”

Public Service Minister Westford (left) hands over the books to staffers of the Coast Guard

Beaton said it was by no accident that the army celebrates its anniversary with the theme “Embracing our past, enriching our present for total defence.
“I have chosen the theme for the Anniversary for, I believe, an anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday and the hopes of tomorrow, which is also in keeping with the Annual Officers’ Conference 2013.”
Officers were asked by the Commander to see their work in three stages, “The initial phase in which we are trained for role; secondly, working in the environment to achieve competence and stage three, in which we give back to the organization by training persons. Once we achieve the third stage of service, individually and collectively, then and only then can we say the Coast Guard we have achieve adulthood.”
Beaton pointed out that, “As the force faces evolving challenges, we will likewise continue to work together with other state agencies to respond to and defend against threats to our national security.”
A Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate joint operations out of the floating base located in the Pomeroon River is currently in the making.
“As we strive to improve our operational capabilities we will simultaneously work to improve our accommodation and socialization,” Beaton asserted.
Added to yesterday’s event, the Army Education Programme, popularly called AEP, accepted a donation of several books from Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford, who was a special invitee, along with MARAD officials, Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best and several senior officers of the army.
Beaton told his officers that they should embrace the power of knowledge and enlighten themselves in this form. Coupled with that, attendees heard that, “Invitations were extended to the spouses of Officers and the ratings, which is in keeping with the truss to place greater emphasis on the nuclear family. It is expected that this new initiative will continue to develop so that the resultant stronger families will produce a stronger Guyana Defence Force.”
Beaton emphasised that he has full confidence in his officers that they can achieve all that is being put forward thus ensuring that, “we develop a Coast Guard that will last lifetimes to come.”
Minister Westford said, after congratulating the force on their anniversary, that the books handed over would come in extremely handy as the Coast Guard Commander in his quest to educate his ranks constantly requested the reading material.
She said it would serve them well also since it is based on engineering, boating, marine and other aspects that deal specifically with their line of work. Westford also indicated to the ranks that they could look forward to magazines and other light reading material. She stressed that “knowledge is something that should be grasped and tried to be attained effortlessly because of its benefits and that it is something that no one can take away”.