“HE LATE…or misbehave”, one comment read. “At least add some vegetables & give dem some swank to carry it down”, another read; but several ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who had photographed their meals and later posted the pictures on social media networks last week had received the tailings of lunch after they had turned up for lunch later than the stipulated lunch hour.This is according to GDF Chief of Staff Brigadier George Lewis, who noted that those ranks would be disciplined for violating the army’s media policy. He said disciplinary measures would not include dismissal.

“In cases like this, you would try to counsel the ranks,” the Chief of Staff told the Guyana Chronicle.
Explaining the incident, Lewis said, “The incident occurred because those ranks — and we know who they are — arrived at the dining hall after the specific lunch period”. He said the ranks were advised that the lunch period was already over, but the caterers provided them with food that was left in the pots.

Brigadier Lewis said the ranks probably used this colloquial term: “You ain’t got nothing left back deh?” when they realised they were late for lunch.

“What is disturbing is that they violated the GDF media policy,” he explained. “We may have WI-FI, but the policy dictates you should not be posting certain pictures, such as the operations room, arms store…,” the Chief of Staff added. He opined that the ranks were wrong in posting the pictures.

A number of persons have shared their opinions regarding the incident, and many persons have criticised the army for the quality of food depicted in the pictures. Conversely, others have spoken highly of the quality and quantity of food available to army ranks.

The Chief of Staff explained that if the ranks in question were not satisfied with the food served, there are a number of levels at which they could have vented their frustration.

Following the incident, he said, all the ranks at the location were assembled and were guided on what to do in event of occurrence of a similar incident.

He also disclosed that there exists a system which caters for late meals at military bases. “There is a system (through which) you can request late meals,” the Chief of Staff disclosed, noting that if there is an activity which concludes after the designated meals time, the meals for the affected persons are catered for.

The Chief of Staff told the Guyana Chronicle that the meals provided to ranks have improved significantly over the years. He noted that a number of males and females from the GDF have been trained at the Carnegie School of Home Economics to bolster the menu standards. At the same time trained civilian cooks are also in the employ of the army.

ARMY SERVES TOP MEALS
Asked whether he eats the meals provided by the army, Brigadier Lewis said: “As Chief of Staff, I eat most times lunch, meals on the base…from time to time breakfast; but I would say to you (that) I have no difficulty eating the meals in the GDF, and I would say to you it is of high quality.”

He added that there are persons in the army who are diabetic and who have special eating needs, and they are catered for.

With the advent of social media, a number of pictures have been posted online, mainly on the social platform Facebook, by ranks of the disciplined services. In some cases, ranks have posted pictures while posing with arms or in uniform; while, in other cases, there are pictures of ranks on operations, including army ranks engaged in paratroop operations.