Latest update August 4th, 2026 12:30 AM
I let my son into an organisation not knowing their policies and penalties
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter in tears and with a pain in my heart to all mothers out there who feel that their child joining the army is a good thing. Please think again.
My son joined the army at 17 years, 11 months old and served it until he decided that he does not want to be a part of it anymore, reasons best know to him.
He went absent without leave and after much discussion between us, he allowed me to accompany him into Camp Ayanganna, where he was placed under close arrest from March 5, 2013.
He spent 78 days before he had a trial and was sentenced to three months imprisonment which is to be spent in the main prison.
When I took him there, I was told by the Base Commander, Mr. Bristol, that whatever his sentence is, the time he spent in the army jail would have been deducted and he would not stay more than 42 days. But he spent in excess of that, and was then given a three month sentence with no deduction of the time spent in the Camp Ayanganna lock-ups.
I went as far as sending a letter to the Chief of Staff asking for leniency, and to date I have gotten no reply.
I let my son into an organisation not knowing their policies and penalties.
So mothers out there, please put this into your heads; that should your loved one join the Guyana Defence Force and some day decide that they can no longer take it and become a deserter , they have committed a criminal offence; and if and when caught, would have to go to jail.
Your child would be made to rub shoulders with murderers, rape men, thieves and all the rest of it.
Don’t go to any officer to look into your matter, because you would be the fooled. It happened to me.
Mother in pain
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