MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, says that if indeed new officers of the Guyana Defence Force are beaten during initiation training, such actions must be condemned.

In his brief statement on Friday, Ramjattan was adamant that investigations into the matter are currently ongoing. He said if the investigation proves to be true, then the parties involved have crossed the red line and have gone too far. “If there is indeed abuse of any human in Guyana that must be condemned,” the minister stated.

Online news outlet NewsSource reported recently that the Guyana Defence Force has launched an internal investigation into the initiation beating of a number of new officers of the force who were recently commissioned.

The initiation usually forms part of the “welcome into the Force”, but this year, senior officers are concerned that those involved in the incident went too far.

A number of the new officers had to be taken to the hospital to seek medical attention for various injuries, the report said.

It was noted too that a young doctor, who is a reserve officer, was likely to undergo surgery due to injuries he sustained during training.