The President of the Guyana Veterans Legion, Lieutenant Colonel (retd) George Gomes, last Friday defended the Head of State’s decision to employ former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks for top Government positions.
Colonel Gomes said President David Granger has gravitated towards people he can trust and those that he knows, even if others are also qualified for the positions.
the gathering at Veterans’ Day 2017 activities
“President Granger was a soldier, and birds of a feather flock together. He gotta go with who he knows and who he trusts, and who he knows got the discipline,” Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Gomes said.
He made the comment while speaking at the annual wreath-laying ceremony hosted at Camp Ayanganna in recognition of the selfless service of former army officers and war heroes in defending Guyana.
In his address to the gathering, Colonel Gomes underlined that when a young person enlists in the army, it is perhaps the highest level of service he or she can offer to his/her country. He noted that the experience of being a rank in the GDF teaches many disciplines, which can prove to be invaluable in future endeavours.
“The military teaches discipline, order, leadership, teamwork; it builds maturity and character. With early retirement, ex-military personnel can start a second career, and with this type of discipline and leadership that is so badly needed in Guyana, they are bound to be assets wherever they go,” the retired colonel said.
Gomes lashed out at the press, saying, “It is for that reason that I get annoyed when some so-called newspaper columnist who has never worn a boy Scout or girl Guide’s uniform (is) critical about our President making use of the skills of former officers to execute the work of Government.”
This was as he alluded to the growing concerns among members of the Opposition over what they deem the militarisation of the state and Government apparatus in Guyana by the current Administration.
Gomes singled out ex-military officials currently serving in the APNU/AFC Government, with the topmost-ranked being Minister of State, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Joseph Harmon. There are also Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James, who heads the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU); and retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, who came in for high praise for his excellent strides in disaster risk management and relief as the Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).
Since taking office in May 2015, the APNU/AFC Administration has consistently employed former army personnel to senior Government positions. This has not been well received by sections of society, and the political Opposition has lashed out at the Government, accusing the Administration of turning the country into an appendage of the military.
