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Granger calls for strong national defence strategy
…concerned about shrinking military reserve
Kaieteur News- Former President, David Granger, has called on the government to craft a strong national defence strategy and intensify training and operational deployment of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to combat any threats from neighbouring Venezuela.
Granger’s call comes even as Venezuela continues to make spurious claims to the Essequibo and has planned to hold elections here on May 25 to elect a governor for the region. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Venezuela to desist from any such move, but Caracas has been forging ahead with its plans.
Former President, David Granger
Granger, in an interview with Kaieteur News, said that despite the matter of the territorial controversy being before the ICJ, he remains concerned about the increased threats by Venezuela. Granger said that in addition to developing a proper defence strategy, government needs to expand the People’s Militia units, especially in the hinterland regions. “I don’t know the reason, but it seems that the Militia had shrunken to very small numbers and field exercises of both regular and reserve units seem rare,” Granger told this newspaper. He said the original idea was that every hinterland region should have a strong militia component made up of resident citizens. “So, it was a case of the citizens helping to defend the country as well.”
In its early days in office, government had set up a regional security unit, which, among other things, was to help defend and secure Guyana’s borders. Not much has been heard of this initiative since it was established back in 2021. In June that year, government had announced the creation of the new security body called the Regional Joint Support Team and had allocated a whopping $249,967,523 to operationalise it.
Back then, the opposition had queried the existence of such a unit in the National Assembly and Minister of Governance, Gail Teixeira, revealed then that the Regional Joint Support Team was a new initiative decided on by the Defence Board back in April of that year. Teixeira said the initiative involves both the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and aims to develop operational capacity in crime fighting. Since then, there has been no report on the work of this unit, and it is unclear whether it was ever operationalised and is still in existence.
Granger said the concept of total national defence meant that Guyana should have the ability to use all of its resources, not only in the four hinterland regions, but also throughout the country, “to support our defence efforts,” Granger explained. He also emphasised the importance of diplomatic preparedness. In his view, Guyana’s embassies in Brasilia, Caracas and Paramaribo should be staffed with capable individuals who could provide timely, informed analyses on regional migration, transnational crime and territorial security. Granger recalled that when he was in office, in addition to reinforcing Guyana’s national defence, his administration prioritised regional collaboration, particularly with Brazil, and strengthened ties with CARICOM defence forces. These diplomatic efforts, he said, are essential to building a broader network of support and deterrence. “I think the Venezuelan threat has often been underestimated,” he warned. “There must be a more robust territorial security posture to ensure that the country is prepared.”
Back in February, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, had assured Guyanese that the GDF is ready and set to defend the country against any threats both within and around its borders. Speaking at the opening Ceremony of the Annual Officers’ Conference, Khan said, “We have to remain vigilant and militant in the face of all and any threats and we must be ready to deter and resist any threat.” Speaking directly to President Ali, Khan added: “Commander-in-Chief, I can assure you, we, the men and women in uniform of the Guyana Defence Force, have remained vigilant and will continue to do so…”
He said he was pleased with the President’s clear vision, his leadership and the fact that the GDF can be proud of its operational posture to execute their defence mandate to defy, deter and defend. “It is envisaged, challenges for our country’s national defence and development will continue, and would therefore demand our constant attention, and then, amidst all these challenges, the constant and unscrupulous claim to our territory from an increasingly unstable neighbour continues to present a clear and present danger too close to home,” he stressed.
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