Exercise Tradewinds 2023 opens

Jul 16, 2023 News

---

…with over 1,500 security force personnel from 20 countries  participating

Kaieteur News – With some 1,500 security force personnel from 20 nations participating, Exercise Tradewinds 2023 was on Saturday officially declared open.

The opening ceremony was held at Drill Square, Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown.

Opening the simple, yet significant ceremony was Major Jaime Castello, Guyana’s lead planner for the exercise who said that Guyana is very pleased to once again be the host nation.

Major Castello detailed that over the coming days, several training activities, workshops, and joint exercises in ground training, maritime training, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training in oil spills and flooding responses will take place.

He said this year a diverse group of individuals, each bringing a unique perspective, skills, and experiences to the table have been assembled. Major Castello noted that Exercise Tradewinds offers a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, cross-cultural understanding, and the development of lasting friendships.

“Exercise Tradewinds is not just a military exercise, its about fostering, understanding, building trust and promoting peace. Together we can make a lasting impact on regional security and create a safer world for future generations. To our visiting partner nations, I encourage you to enjoy all the wonders Guyana has to offer if time permits… I welcome you to the opening ceremony of Exercise Tradewinds 2023,” he mentioned.

Exercise Tradewinds which has been occurring annually since 1984 is a Caribbean- focused training programme which is designed to improve readiness by expanding regional capability to mitigate, plan for, and respond to crises by defining them and refining them while developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance the ability to defend Exclusive Economic Zone and increase maritime domain awareness to deter illicit activities.

Exercise Tradewinds 2023 is being sponsored by the United States Southern Command (USOUTHCOM) and commenced on July 14 and will conclude on July 28, 2023.

Meanwhile, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier General, Omar Khan said this year’s exercise holds particular significance as it encompasses comprehensive disaster risk management training, along with simulated oil spill scenarios. He noted that the inclusion of these critical components underscores “our recognition of the ever-present threats posed by natural disasters and environmental hazards, through rigorous training like what we will be doing and preparedness.”

Brigadier Khan said that he, therefore, expects all of the participating troops to make use of these opportunities this Exercise Tradewinds will bring. The Army Chief added that the opportunities afford participants an invaluable platform for the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned in these crucial domains. “For sure, it would enhance our own capability and regional capacity to address challenges, the challenges mentioned,”

The Chief of Staff concluded that “For Guyana, a budding oil-producing nation, this particular exercise comes at a significant moment in our history and we are grateful for these training opportunities we will operate alongside our regional colleagues. Exercise Tradewinds provide us with the opportunity to have successful intervention when we need to act and increase our chances for success.”

Also delivering brief remarks at the opening ceremony was the Commanding General of the US Southern Command, Major General Williams Thigphen, who noted that their presence at the exercise is to demonstrate their enduring relationship and commitment to increasing the disaster response and preparedness throughout the Region as security partners.

He mentioned that the participation of more than 1,500 service members this year exemplifies the shared commitment to one another as their partnership is strengthened and remains united to share responsibilities as defenders of common values which includes freedom, human rights, and democracy.

“Tradewinds 2023 is key to leveraging the capabilities of like-minded countries to reach common goals and strengthen regional stability. Our partnerships are built on trust and understanding to provide a safe and secure environment for our shared neighbourhood,” the Commanding General shared.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch in her remarks said that Tradewinds 2023 will showcase partnerships among 1,500 security personnel from 20 countries in a multidimensional exercise covering ground, air, sea, and cyber domains.

“The goal of this exercise is to improve the security responses of participating Caribbean nations and focus on skills building in interdiction, security, and interagency cooperation,” the outgoing Ambassador stated.

Participating nations include Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Canada, Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda. Also, inter-governmental organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), Regional Security System (RSS), and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) are participating.

---

• Base Camp Ayanganna, Drill Square, Georgetown, Guyana, Major Jaime Castello

---