Georgetown: President and Commander-in-Chief, Dr Irfaan Ali has lauded the efforts made by the Guyana Defence Force in redefining its role in communities across the country through its involvement in civic and civil roles. His words of commendation came at the opening of this year’s Annual Officers Conference at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday, February 10, 2022.
The Head of State told Officers that they must be proud that within a short amount of time they have been able to create such a positive impact among Guyanese and their communities. “The goodwill that is being generated is unbelievable. Everywhere I go, every community they are asking how can we partner with the GDF and how they could partner with the GDF for the development of their community,” the President said.
In 2021 during his inaugural address to Officers of the Force, President Ali outlined his National Defence Policy and in this regard also articulated his vision for a more community oriented Force. A key feature of the National Defence Policy is the promotion of improved relations between the Force and the country’s communities. “ We are not trying to make every citizen a soldier. Indeed, our focus is to emphasize that every soldier is a citizen, and that the GDF has a role to play in enhancing community and national development in keeping with the obligations of citizenship,” the President emphasized.
“Over the past year, we have advanced national security. We have fostered good neighbourly relations. We have deepened our defence relations with other states and their militaries. We continue to strengthen the capacity and the capabilities of the Force. We have improved the welfare and training of ranks, and we have ensured that the Force is more involved in community and national development, and I want us to applaud the efforts of all of you and the men and women that continue to work in the realization of this goal,” President Ali stated as he provided further insight on the efforts being made, thus far, towards the implementation of his government’s National Defence Policy.
Meanwhile , President Ali also took the opportunity to applaud the Force on its Vaccination programme and also emphasized the Forces role in the countrywide efforts to combat the pandemic. “…the GDF has been integral in working with us to ensure our population remains safe in this COVID era, and again, I want to thank the GDF for their positive and self-less role in supporting our efforts in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
The Guyana Defence Force, he said, will continue this year to contribute to the development of community and other projects.
President Ali said the Force is being strengthened for a better state of readiness to execute its lawful mandate. In this regard to pointed to his government’s proposal to increase budgetary allocation to the GDF to 17.6 Billion dollars. He stated too that the Force’s capabilities in the years ahead will be strengthened and there will also be greater utilization of technology and intelligence.
The President has also recommitted to greater training opportunities and the continuation of the special housing programme for ranks.
He said too that training remains a top priority to develop the Force’s human resources. “We will continue to emphasize training. Officers will continue to benefit from training at both local and foreign academies and universities. I have already awarded scholarships to allow some officers to study at the University of Guyana, and will continue to provide more opportunities, including through those provided by the Force’s international partners, he assured.
Meanwhile , President Ali has tasked Officers at the conference to devise an outcome document following the conference, on how the Force sees defines its roles and responsibility in building a ‘ One Guyana’. “For you, there are three components that we have been speaking about, national defense, national security and national prosperity. In every category you have a distinct role. In every category you have an integral role. How do we ensure we do an analysis in building this One Guyana to identify the tools, the resources and the strategies that are required, identifying the gaps, prioritizing the gaps and then moving towards implementation of a phased plan to fill these gaps? How do we enhance the coordination, especially at the national security level? Partnership, intelligence, forward planning. How do we ensure that the national prosperity and that the Force is prepared to deal with the social, economic and political transformation that will take place?” he asked.
The Annual Officers’ Conference provides the opportunity for Officers, with the guidance of the Commander in Chief, to craft the way forward for the continued development of the Force and its integral role in the national development strategy.
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