Georgetown: Eleven members from the Guyana Defence Force, Coast Guard have participated in and recently concluded a naval exercise spearheaded by their Brazilian counterpart termed ‘Exercise Caribex’.
The crew headed by Sub. Lieutenant K. Welcome departed Guyana on the 10th May 2015, for exercise ‘Caribex’, aboard the Brazilian Naval Patrol Vessel named ‘Bracui’. The training exercise was spearheaded by the Naval Patrol Group of the North 4th district.
According to Sub.Lt Welcome, the aim of the exercise was to familiarise the members of the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard with the various operational procedures aboard the naval patrol vessel in several skilled areas such as Navigation, Communication, Weaponry, Engineering, and Basic Seamanship. Sub Lieutenant Welcome also highlighted that during the exercise personnel had the opportunity to be involved in firefighting, damage control, and inland patrols in the Amazon Rivers of Brazil.
Sub Lieutenant Welcome then said “As professionals of the Coast Guard, this type of training will not only enhance their skills and knowledge in various areas but will also allow the members to perform their immediate duties efficiently and effectively.”
Addressing the success of the troops, Acting Chief of Staff, Colonel Kemraj Persaud says that the training and upgrading of the skills of all soldiers is of critical importance and that the exposure gained by these troops agurs well, particularly in the context of the current threats to Guyana’s territorial integrity. “I urge the ratings to make full use of their training, especially at this time when there are threats to our territorial integrity.”
The training comes on the heels of the recently concluded Exercise Tradewinds which saw the GDF Flagship the GDFS Essequibo and Coast Guard ranks participating in the maritime phase of the Exercise. This training saw participation from 17 different countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK and those in the Caribbean.
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