THE US Coast Guard and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have recently completed an initial site survey of the GDF Coast Guard’s location, geared at providing a variety of support under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), as revealed by the embassy in Georgetown in a recent statement.

That statement said the survey entailed an assessment of the current status of GDF Coast Guard vessels, infrastructure, and maintenance and logistics systems.

As a result of this initiative, team members on both sides were better able to develop strong relations and understand the everyday challenges of operating small vessels within Guyanese territorial waters.
The nine US Coast Guard personnel who are members of the newly-formed Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) were here from October 22-24 for two days of interaction. The TAFT is a joint US Coast Guard/Department of Defense team based out of the US Southern Command in Miami, Florida.

TAFT assistance focuses on up keeping U.S.-purchased interceptor-type small boats used for combating international organized crime, such as narco-trafficking and piracy. The US had previously provided vessels to the GDF Coast Guard, and this move comes ahead of the planned provision of several more boats to the GDF Coast Guard under the CBSI.

“The U.S. Coast Guard team and U.S. Embassy’s Military Liaison Office regard the visit as establishing a strong foundation for further CBSI cooperation, especially following the anticipated delivery of coastal patrol vessels in the coming months through the CBSI program.”

The TAFT team is currently comprised of nine U.S. Coast Guard members, with six U.S. Army personnel expected to join the team by the spring of 2014. At full operating capacity, the team would be able to provide local and long distance support to Caribbean coastal forces, including the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard.

The TAFT team specializes in small boat repairs, development of short- and long-term maintenance plans, and improvement of logistics and supply processes. TAFT often serves as a conduit between U.S. Embassy staff, local forces, and commercial and technical representatives.

Specially selected members of the visiting team were transported by GDF Air Corps helicopters to the GDF Coast Guard’s floating base in the Essequibo River, for interaction with fellow coast guard ranks, who briefed them on the distinct challenges faced by GDF Coast Guard personnel in operating the floating base.

When the visit concluded, TAFT Senior Chief Machinery Technician, Gilbert Page, commended the GDF Coast Guard colleagues for the ingenious and professional display of their functions during the initiative.

TAFT Officer-In-Charge, Lieutenant Commander William “Brian” Winburn, observed that the team’s presence reflected the United States’ commitment to the CBSI. Lieutenant Commander Bob Novotny, commander of the Embassy’s Military Liaison Office, added that this initial TAFT visit “marks the beginning of a new and enduring chapter in security cooperation and information exchange between the United States and Guyana in support of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative”.