Certain privileges would be stripped from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officers in whose barrack rooms several rounds of ammunition, which were issued and not returned, were found. The offending officers also received warning letters.
Army Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best had vowed strong action against the officers and had even threatened to court martial them. None of the officers has been court-martialled nor has anyone lost seniority.
However, well-placed sources say the officers in question are likely to be overlooked for future promotions.
“The find of unauthorised ammunition reflects poorly on your officership. This would definitely have to be noted when consideration is not only being given for your upward mobility in rank, but also when other privileges and entitlements afforded to officers for their unimpeachable conduct and performance are being contemplated,” one of the warning letters seen by this newspaper stated.
The letters were copied to the officers’ personal files.
With regard to lower ranks connected with the find, the GDF warned them that any recurrence of their actions would result in strong disciplinary action.
Several captains and lieutenants were among the officers caught up in the incident.
A search of the barracks at various army bases, including the main bases: Timehri, Camp Ayanganna and Sewayo, in early September uncovered more than 200 rounds of 7.62 and 9mm ammunition, 200 live and blank rounds of ammunition, helmets, and a training grenade.
Best said that the soldiers had breached the force’s Standard Operating Procedures. He told the media that the discovery was made after intelligence sources disclosed that ammunition was missing, following the recent military operation, Home Guard.
The search was conducted as part of regular internal audits to ensure that compliance mechanisms were adhered to by ranks of the force.
“After the exercise would have been completed, the unused ammunition is to be returned to the ammunition depot,” the chief of staff stated at a September 7 news conference held at Base Camp Ayanganna.
Best noted that helmets, live and blank ammunition, fragmentation discs, and weapon magazines, along with other equipment, were found in the rooms of officers, warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers.
All pieces of equipment were to be returned to the ammunition depot at a stipulated time.
Best confirmed that no guns were discovered, nor were any found to be missing. The chief of staff was also quick to point out that there was no conspiracy between the ranks in whose rooms the ammunition was found, noting that army intelligence was able to confirm this as well.
“I would not say here that the ammunition was kept for any unsavoury purpose,” he said.
When Best was asked from where the breakdown stemmed, Best said the fault does not lie with the management of the force, but with the people who were tasked with complying with the stipulated rules and regulations.
