155 guns issued by GDF during PNC rule still missing

The Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday heard that of the 237 weapons issued by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to various individuals and organisations during the 1970s, 155 are still outstanding. That number represents 65.4 per cent of guns issued.

Returning to the stand with further evidence was head of the Intelligence (G2) Unit of the GDF, Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James, who told the tribunal that while those guns have not yet been recovered, no word has been given for searches to be carried out for their recovery.

Issuance

Lieutenant Colonel James, during his testimony on Monday, had relayed that it was possible for the People’s National Congress (PNC) to have had a weapons account in the GDF given the frequency of unauthorised issuance of arms.

While he could not say at that time how many of those weapons were issued to the National Development Ministry, Wilfred Skeete, an R Corbin, and to external agencies, the Lieutenant Colonel returned on Tuesday with documents showing that both Skeete and Corbin were frequent recipients of the Army weapons.

James told the Commission that a Comrade R Corbin received some 16 weapons, while Skeete received over 100 pieces. Among the mentioned weapons were seven Smith and Wesson guns issued to and signed for by a Comrade Corbin, PS, Office of the Prime Minister.

Three of those weapons were returned while four remained outstanding. Under the same name R Corbin, nine more Smith and Wessons were issued, but these were signed for by Corbin as an employee of the National Development Ministry. Eight of those weapons were returned while one remained outstanding.

Several other weapons, including eight G3 Rifles, 20 Beretta Submachine Guns, six 7.2 rifles, six .22 rifles, and 15 SLR rifles were all issued to Comrade Skeete. Many of those weapons were not returned. Eyebrows were raised too when documents presented revealed that there were instances where Skeete had signed for and uplifted weapons with no indication that they were for the National Development Ministry, where he was an employee. Some 50 9 mm pistols were issued to Skeete. Only 13 of those pistols were returned. Skeete also received 20 Beretta S.M.Gs and 15 M70 rifles. Of that number, 14 were returned while one remained outstanding. All these transactions were carried out between 1976 and 1979.

Recovered

Documents suggested too that Skeete had received weapons from the Army, on behalf of the National Development Ministry in August 1979, when that office had been burnt down one month before. The head of Army Intelligence said it would be an anomaly for the GDF to issue weapons to individuals.

In 2008, following a shootout with criminals, the Police recovered a number of weapons and ammunition, which were traced to those issued by the Army to Skeete on July 6, 1978 and to Corbin on May 19, 1976, under the National Development Ministry.

James told the Commission that the guns issued to Skeete were never returned to the Army.

He pointed out that some were issued permanently and on loan to the Joint Services Organisations, but some of these entities were now disbanded and defunct, and some weapons were never returned.

He explained to the Commission that approval for issuance of weapons within the Army was given by the Chief-of-Staff, and issuance to external agencies would require the expressed permission of the Defence Board.

The Army Officer pointed out that weapons were issued to Joint Services Organisations, and said he was unaware of any protocol governing the issuance, contending that it was done on a case-by-case basis.