[www.inewsguyana.com] – “We cannot sell out. We cannot give away. We cannot offer the adversary any corridor or any passage,” were the words of Commander in Chief, Brigadier David Granger, as he lauded the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for the successful completion of Exercise Greenheart, a tactical exercise, in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni area in Region Seven on October 26.
Noting that the GDF is the only organisation that stands between the adversary and the people of Guyana, the President said that it is this generation’s obligation to ensure that the children of Guyana inherit the country we inherited.
According to the Ministry of the Presidency, the Head of State made these remarks to members of the GDF and residents of Bartica at the Bartica Community Centre Ground after observing the final attack of Exercise Greenheart.
Calling the exercise a timely one, because of the territorial threats Guyana faces, President Granger said, “This is not an offensive operation. This is a defensive operation. Exercise Greenheart is about defending our territory. We are defensive, not aggressive. We are protective, not offensive. We are positive, not negative.”
Describing the exercise as a magnificent one, the President said that the GDF have demonstrated that after 45 years of training, they are a jungle force to be reckoned with.
He said, “What you have done here today is exemplary.” Stressing the importance of exercises like this one, President Granger said, “People must know that when they come into Guyana to invest, they will be coming into a safe environment that is protected by one of the best defence forces in the Caribbean, the GDF.”
The Ministry noted that the Head of State added that Guyana is committed to protecting foreign direct investments and declared that no country must intimidate or threaten investors.
Last week, in his address to Parliament, President Granger had indicated that Venezuela, through its Ambassador to Ottawa, had sent a letter to Guyana Gold Fields Incorporated, who are operating a large mining operation in Aurora, Region Seven, accusing them of infringing on the territorial sovereignty of Venezuela.
“What you have done here today, GDF, is an example to show our foreign direct [investors] that their investments are safe and that Guyana will use every fibre of its State system of its defence forces to protect their investment,” the President declared.
In congratulating the GDF on the successful completion of the exercise, President Granger told the soldiers that they have demonstrated that they are an army of the people.
These comments were met by loud cheers by the school children and residents of Bartica who had gathered to watch the march pass and speech by the President. He said, “Every soldier is a citizen and every citizen is a soldier.”
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, in an invited comment, said, “I want to let the Guyanese people know that they have a defence force that is training all the time; that is competent and ready to defend Guyana.”
He added that “After the President’s speech two Thursdays ago at the GDF Headquarters on the Total Defence Policy, we decided to become more focused on our primary role of defence. This [the exercise] is a part of the efforts to re-orient the troops with their primary role and based on my visit to the positions, I would say that we have achieved the objectives of this exercise.”
Expressing satisfaction with the Exercise Greenheart, the Chief of staff noted that as is customary following exercises, there will be an assessment of the performance, which will ensure that improvements are made as the Army continues its cycle of annual exercises.
Additionally, Colonel George Lewis, Assistant Director of Operations explained that the exercise commenced on October 20 and said that the troops advanced over 24.5 kilometres for the first three days of the exercise, following which, they took up defensive positions in the jungle. They then participated in exercises including patrolling, ambush and close target reconnaissance and concluded with the final advance and attack on Monday.
Colonel Lewis said, “The purpose of the exercise was to identify deficiencies and at the same time to test the preparedness of our troops to conduct operations in the jungle. We wanted to test our troops to see in which areas we needed to focus on and train them.”
As part of their training, every soldier in the GDF will have to complete jungle warfare training at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious School (CRMJATS) at Makouria, Region Seven.
True, lots of bad elements within the army .Good thing to have a trained and disciplined army but don’t give false hopes to the people. Don’t send our arm forces to the slaughterhouse if Venezuela tries to take Esseqibo.Let’s hope the British especially will take care of things in the same manner they kicked Argentina out of the Falklands.
DK, My heart goes out to you when I note your mental limitations.Neither Canada nor Mexico is a match for the US militarily yet they maintain standing air, naval and ground forces. Having a defense system is an essential part of being an independent state. It is not about who can beat who, it is about being able to put up some form of response if your territory is invaded even if it is just to buy time while other moves are made on the diplomatic front. Now,the Venezuelan military would probably destroy the much weaker GDF in open combat on the battle field, but open combat on the battlefield is not the only way to fight a war. That is why no foreign power has been able to completely subdue Afghanistan in recent centuries. Ask the Russians, the Americans and the British. As an analogy, human beings are more powerful than ants, bees, mosquitoes, sand flies etc, yet these insects have the ability to make humans very uncomfortable.
The fact that Venezuela is more powerful does not mean that we should also offer them Berbice and Demerara on a silver platter if they try to take the Essequibo.We must put up resistance to the best of our ability. Also, the army has to hold training exercises to maintain or improve its tactical and strategic capabilities and ensure that morale remains high.
You mentioned a possible Brazilian invasion. Do they have territorial ambitions with respect to Guyana? Why did you not mention Suriname which has territorial ambitions with respect to Guyana? Is it because we are a match for them militarily? Are you Guyanese? You don’t sound so.
Finally, being a force to be reckoned with in the jungle means being able to effectively engage a foreign unit of comparable strength (battalion, company,platoon, brigade) at jungle warfare. It does not imply being able to defeat the mighty Brazilian military machine.
GDF=Guyana Godee Force! Did anyone remember the last time Guyana had a war with Venezuela what happened? Burnham had to dig holes and hide the dogee force of Guyana! I totally agree, why is Granger fooling the public. Is Granger one of the biggest comedian to not realized that Venezuela will chew guyana with one bite! He is strongly depending on the USA to send force to back him which will never be the case….usa is not interested in Guyana….they are interested in OIL…
Bobby can your u tell us who they the freedom fighters were loyal to when the killed the Minister and his family? Looking forward to your answer, alos tell us if you knew anything about the gang why Roger and them were exchanging phone call, the freedom fighters were loyal to crime, they were guns for hire,explain who got all the kidnapping money for all them 1992 suddenly rising businessmen who were on the list ,
GDF the way to go keep training hard and fight easy always have a mental state war readiness as a x member I always see war first and death second defend your country at all cost, do not let these cowards get to you a thief will enter their home with a pointer broom they will drop the gun and run leaving the wife and daughter behind sheep don’t become soldiers only men do.
I suppose you wouldn`t hide. You will stand and fight from where ever you are hiding?
This is expected coming from you, how many of you got AR15 rifles and Glock 40 guns and a thief with a pen knife still take everything from you, the armed forces are made up of real men and women and ALL GUYANESE are very proud of them, you’re Indian so nothing these BRAVE and highly trained ppl do will be appreciated. The BOYS you glorified prefer to steal for 23 yrs, the money they stole some of it should have been spent on Defense,COWARDS like you DK should be serving and flying modern aircraft designed for defending our beautiful country, instead the money went in bank accounts and PRADO VILL,,the free press is allowing you to EMBARRASS yourself and the cockroach from ROBB ST,,we will stand and fight for our country and defending what is ours, selling the land for a few million to add to the already filled bank accounts is not in this governments plans,
OH NO ! NO! NO! YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG ANGELA ! EVERYONE KNOWS , EXCEPT YOU, THAT FINEMAN, ANDREW DOUGLAS ,BLACKIE AND OTHERS WERE CREATED BY THE PNC TO MAKE GUYANA UNGOVERNABLE FOR THE PPP/C. THESE GANGSTERS WERE HAILED AS FREEDOM FIGHTERS BY THE PNC . HOYTE AND THE PNC DESCRIBED BLACKIE AS THEIR HERO AND DRAPED HIS COFFIN WITH THE GUYANA FLAG. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING , ANGELA? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THESE TRAGIC YEARS? TRUE GUYANESE WERE PROUD OF THIS COUNTRY UP TO A FEW MONTHS AGO, BEFORE THE RE- EMERGENCE OF RIGGING OF ELECTIONS . WE WERE DESCRIBED BY A PRIME MINISTER OF A CARICOM COUNTRY AS THE ONLY SHINING STAR OF THE CARIBBEAN. DO NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN GUYANESE TRAVELLING ABROAD ARE NOW TREATED AS THIEVES— THANKS TO THE PNC AND THEIR RIGGING REPUTATION. SO , ANGELA KING TRY AND ‘ PUT YUH MOUTH RIGHT .’
Fineman and the other ragtag gangs were created and used by the Jagdeo criminal regime after the GDF was deliberately sidelined and suffocated by same administration. True Guyanese can once again be proud of OUR country.
It is amazing how easy some socalled Guyanese are ready to sell out our lands for a few pieces of silver… but then it is not surprising because they see themselves as an ethnic group first and their nationality after. They don’t give a crap about our beautiful country. Hats off to the GDF. They have rebounded stronger than ever after been stifled and thrown aside by the past criminal administration.
So you all think that guyana should do what jagdeo said that we should give venezuela water ways and not land how dumb are you people because after they the water ways it will much easyer to take the land
These people are crazy by doing this don’t you think your are creating more tension with Venezuela. I cant bet you when bullet start to fly all of then will run and hide.
This is nothing but a puppet show. Because Granger came from the army, he thinks the army is his to do what he please. He is planning and strategizing with this under equipped and ill prepared army to defend against Venezuela. Really?? And what was Ramjattan doing there? Doesn’t he have the internal crime situation to deal with? He’s so publicity drunk …
From Delta force to Jungle force boy we Guyanese are real joker.
“GDF is a jungle force to be reckoned with”; President says investors will be protected from Venezuela
OMG OMG these people are jokers. It’s like asking the Canadian or Mexican armies to defend against the US armed forces. Whom you think will win out? These jokers are making themselves look like real fools. They are talking to a handful of stupid stupid people. The press have a right to ask this so called installed president if the GDF can defend Guyana against a Venezuelan or Brazilian invasion. My good Lord how can they see their fellow Guyana as so dumb to shove this down their throats? The so called independent free press has an obligation to ask tough questions of these fools but most Guyanese knows the so called independent free press is very much afraid of these installed rulers and has to toe their line at all times.
Tough question. Can the GDF fight a war with the Venezuelan armed forces?
Yes it can fight.. But what you think will happen? Venezuela have enough fire power to kill every single living Guyanese that resides in Guyana without GDF firing a single shot. How could the free press allow this installed ruler to fool a handful of its citizens?
THE GDF COULDN’T EVEN FIGHT FINEMAN AND HIS RAGTAG BAND , HOW ON EARTH IS THE GDF A JUNGLE FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH ? OVERCONFIDENCE IS A TERRIBLE THING .