Latest update January 17th, 2025 6:30 AM
Compensation package finally proposed to Camp Groomes survivors
After more than a decade of agitation for decent compensation for the injuries they sustained in the line of duty while stationed at Camp Groomes, nine ex-soldiers are likely to soon be well compensated. At least this is based on information this publication was recently privy to.
Although this publication was unable to confirm this latest development with senior Guyana Defence Force [GDF] officials or the expected beneficiaries, reports suggest that the ex-soldiers were invited to a meeting at Camp Ayanganna on Tuesday with the Chief of Staff and other senior GDF ranks to discuss a proposed compensation package.
Based on information filtered to this publication, part of the compensation package will include that each of the soldiers will see themselves being elevated to the status of Sergeant and be eligible for retroactive payment, possibly from the time of the incident.
This publication was further informed that the proposal had in fact found favour with the ex-soldiers, who have all denied to admit to such a development when contacted by Kaieteur News. Reports suggest that the ex-soldiers by the end of the meeting had agreed to sign contracts in order to qualify for the compensation package.
The move in this direction comes on the heels of support rendered to the ex-soldiers by the Guyana Veterans Legion.
[Major Ret’d] I.C. Fraser (seated fourth from right) and Guyana Veterans Legion President Colonel [Ret’d] George Gomes (seated third from left) with the body’s Executives, while the Camp Groomes survivors display their cheques in the background.
According to information recently released by the Legion, an initiative to provide financial relief to the nine ex-soldiers was spearheaded by Retired Major Ian C. Fraser, also known as, ‘I. C.’. Retired Major Fraser was the First Commanding Officer at Camp Groomes.
At a simple ceremony on Wednesday February 28, 2018 at Carifesta Avenue headquarters of the Veterans Legion, the ex-soldiers were each presented with cheques, reportedly to the tune of $100,000.
A luncheon was also held in honour of the ex-soldiers, during which they had shared their concerns about poor treatment meted out to them by the GDF. Upon hearing of the cries of the ex-soldiers of being abandoned, representatives of the Guyana Veterans Legion had expressed hope that Government would step in and provide the ex-soldiers with some form of relief.
On the night of December 18, 2000, the ex-soldiers were among a unit tasked with guarding the ammunition bond at Camp Groomes on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The bond, due to reasons which have not been released to the public, exploded. The bond reportedly contained grenades, various rifles, guns, and a suspected chemical weapon which the government had said was destroyed at the time.
When the dust settled after the massive explosion, three ranks were dead and among the injured were: Samuel Archer, Colwin Lewis, Wincel Wade, Kerwin Wilson, Curtis Samuels, Delroy Hutson, Joslyn Ross, Cecil Ault and Wendell Cort.
A Commission of Inquiry into the matter was conducted in May 2016 and was attended by the surviving ranks.
But three of the nine soldiers, who had voiced their concerns last year that nothing came out of the COI, shared their belief that from all indications, theirs is a fate of continuous neglect.
The ex-soldiers revealed that they were told that within three weeks of the COI into the matter they would all be contacted. “The three weeks done turn into a year and we still ain’t hear nothing from nobody,” they had shared.
But they were however hopeful that their fear would be appeased by President David Granger, who they claimed to have helped vote into power. Last year they complained bitterly that no moves were being moved to address their concerns.
“We are hearing that everything is on the President’s desk and it has to go through Parliament and all sort of things,” the former soldiers complained.
However, given the latest development, it seems that the ranks will be able to put to rest their concerns of neglect and finally find closure.
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