Making the announcement at an annual lunch engagement with the troops, he commended the military for their work and pointed to the critical role they would have to play in four key national events next year, including maintaining the peace at general elections.

At the traditional “Soldiers Day” Christmas party at the Army’s Camp Stephenson Base, Timehri, the Commander-in-Chief said soldiers, policemen and members of the Guyana Fire and Prison services would get the annual Christmas bonus, with each receiving one month’s salary.

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The dining hall at Camp Stephenson erupted in thunderous applause when the President said he was pleased with the work of the Army and was granting the bonus despite severe challenges the country faced this year, including the devastating January floods and escalating fuel prices.

However, he pointed to the role they as the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) would have to play in four key events in Guyana next year: national elections, preparations for Cricket World Cup 2007, the Rio Group meeting, and the country’s 40th Independence anniversary celebrations.

He commended the Army’s role in the national flood relief effort to help those hit by the January floods, noting that these affected 40% of the population and incurred expenses totalling $3B.

“In spite of the suffering and the misery the flooding caused, our people rose to the occasion, and you in the military played an important role in rising to the challenge and bringing relief to our people and I want to thank you for that,” President Jagdeo said.

Despite the flood and other challenges, the government managed to keep the economy stable and was able to meet additional expenses, like a supplementary $100M for the GDF, he noted.

Pointing to the 2006 regional and general elections, he said the Army will have to play a critical role in maintaining the peace as it has been working jointly with the Police Force.

He said many people predict that the elections will be marred by “Armageddon and war” but he does not buy into the doomsday scenario.

“I know about our people…I have seen the level of integration of this society,” he said.

He said the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has a job to do in running the elections.

“Many people think I can tell them (GECOM) what to do - I cannot. That’s an independent body. They have to prepare and prepare well. Whatever the results are, we must respect the results and move on so that we can continue building this country,” he noted.

Brigadier Edward Collins

In his address to the soldiers, GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Edward Collins said his special plea with regard to the preparations in order to meet the deadline is that the country should aim for genuine peace to reign before, during and after the elections.

Pointing to the observance of the country’s 40th Independence anniversary next year, Mr Jagdeo said the GDF would have an important role to play in the celebrations.

He called for the younger generation to educate themselves about the struggles the country made in attaining independence.

“What bothers me today is that few of our young people know of the struggles that we had to achieve independence. This is the fitting year to learn of those struggles,” the President said. “This has to do with the pride of our country.”

Next year too, he pointed out, Guyana would be hosting for the first time the Rio Group summit. The Rio Group consists mainly of South and Latin American countries and Guyana is the representative of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Mr Jagdeo said it would be the first time that a small country like Guyana, and an English-speaking country, would be hosting leaders of the group.

The Rio Group does not have a secretariat but relies on yearly meetings to make decisions on new fields of cooperation which enhance economic, social, scientific and technological development among member countries.

“It’s a big undertaking. I know we can do it. We have to do it. It would put our country on map of the world,” Mr Jagdeo stated.

In addition to these events, all major works on the Providence Cricket Stadium being built for Cricket World Cup 2007 would have to be completed, the President noted.

He said there would be a role for the Army in these preparations given that it is a massive undertaking.

He added that the preparations would have to be immaculate because this would be an event that will be watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world.

The deadline for completion of the Providence Stadium is October 31, 2006 for the hosting of the games in March 2007.

“I know the importance of all four of these events. The pride of the country is at stake,” the President stressed.

Meanwhile, reflecting on 2005, Chief of Staff Collins said that despite the paucity of equipment, the GDF remains a strong force, always ready and relevant. This is because of the Guyanese soldiers who portray “courage, compassion, and determination” and this he said has always been the bedrock of the successes of the force.

He urged them to continue to perform their duties with “that level of commitment and dedication seen throughout the year in order to create an atmosphere of peace, and tranquillity all across this country of ours.”

“In this way, we are bound to bring eternal joy and happiness thereby causing not one but many smiling moments for our people giving them that feeling of safety and making them satisfied in the knowledge that what we are doing is for their general wellbeing and overall security of this nation,” Collins declared.

Aware that many make pledges for the new year, he had his own for the Army.

“We too in the Army, as an organisation, ought to pledge for the new year to rededicate ourselves to achieving higher standards of performance in all areas so that the country can attain peace, justice, people’s safety, national security and stability, as well as a positive as opposed to a negative outlook/mentality to the future. We must aim for all of these regardless of our personal views, be it political or religious. This is because Guyana is for us all, and it is our responsibility to develop her,” he said.

As is traditional on Soldiers Day, the Commander-in-Chief served lunch to junior members of the GDF and shared in open conversation and other forms of entertainment.

Thursday, December 22, 2005