President David Granger, on Wednesday received a distinguished Jungle Warrior Machete from the Brazilian Army’s Jungle Warfare Training Center (CIGS) at State House from Colonel Nilton de Figueiredo Lampert, Commanding Officer of the Training Centre.
In presenting the Machete to the Head of State, Colonel Emerson Deni da Silva, Brazilian Military Attaché to Guyana, said that it is comprised of a black, frosted metal blade of high resistance and double cut of a lower and larger man cut and an upper and small cut, in a half moon shape.
He further noted that a head of a jaguar in metal is at the extremity of the handle towards the main cut, representing the animal symbol of jungle war. The handle is made of wood and it is inlayed in both sides of its bolster, with the badge of the Specialist of Jungle Operations.
“The most famous Elite Troops of the world use knives and machetes to identify them. It is usual at a meeting between friendly Armies, the reciprocal exhibition of this emblematic artifact, which to a certain point reveals the historic significance of the integrated corporations. The Jungle Warriors formed by CIGS, since its inception in 1966, represent a specialised group in Jungle Operations. Until 2003, the materialisation of its symbol of one of its main work instruments was missing, a personalised machete. In the celebration of the 40th years of creation of the CIGS, in 2004, it has been developed as the project ‘Jungle Warrior Machete’,” he explained.
According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, President Granger was trained at the CIGS in 1969, some 49 years ago. By virtue of the training received from the institution, he has received the Machete, bearing the number 353, Colonel Deni da Silva said. In accepting the Machete, the Head of State said that the presentation is more than a mark of friendship between Guyana and Brazil.
“I want to thank the Brazilian Army for its support to the Guyana Defence Force. Today is more than a mark of friendship between Guyana and Brazil. It is more of a demonstration of the type of cooperation that should exist on the continent. This is the way it should be. So this is an important visit and a reaffirmation of the ties not just between Guyana and Brazil but also the two Militaries and the two Jungle Warfare Schools, the CIGS and the Jungle and Amphibious Training School in Guyana,” the Head of State said.
Accompanying Colonel Lampert and Colonel Deni da Silva were Colonel Claudio Carneiro Mardine from the Landing Operations Command, Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Lineu Pupo de Paula and Mr. Paulo Eduardo Borda de Carvalho Silos, Minister’s Counselor of the Brazilian Embassy.
