–to discuss the strengthening of defence cooperation

DECLARING open the 1st Bilateral Defence Workgroup Meeting between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Brazilian Military at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara yesterday, GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, remarked that the meeting was significant because it was being held 45 years after the first Goodwill Games mission from Guyana had visited Brazil.

He recalled that during the period August 26 -30, 1968, the then Chief of Staff (CoS) designate, Colonel Clarence Price, who later became Brigadier Price, was part of the Goodwill Games delegation to Brazil, and that had laid the foundation for the Armed Forces of Guyana to have friendly relations with the Armed Forces of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

CoS Brigadier Mark Phillips said, “The Federative Republic of Brazil has remained a good neighbour to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and we have certainly achieved a regime of peace and understanding between the two countries.”

He also acknowledged Brazil’s respect for Guyana’s territorial integrity before the meeting was convened yesterday.

Brigadier Phillips said the defence cooperation existing between the two South American neighbours has existed for more than four-and-a-half decades, and many of the officers and ranks of the GDF have participated in courses, and continue to be trained at the training schools and colleges of the Brazilian Armed Forces.

Brigadier Phillips said the military cooperation between Guyana and Brazil is exemplified by Guyana’s appointment of a resident military attaché to Brazil in the person of Brigadier-General Julian Bruce Lovell, who was also part of Guyana’s delegation to the military talks yesterday.

Brigadier Phillips added that the GDF Jungle and Amphibious Training School continues to be staffed by a team of Brazilian instructors, and the GDF football team has so benefited from the presence of a Brazilian physical education monitor/foot-
ball coach on a continuous basis that it is now the second best team in the Guyana Football League.

He expressed pleasure that yesterday’s meeting was geared at strengthening the defence cooperation between Guyana and Brazil.

Brigadier Phillips also introduced to the Brazilian Military Delegation the members of the GDF Delegation, which comprised senior officers.

In response, Brazilian Divisional General Decio Luis Schons declared that he was very pleased with the warm welcome his delegation had received. He said it was something that would remain with the delegation, and he expressed confidence that the relationship between the two countries would flourish.

General Schons said Guyana is a country they do not know very well, and the language barrier places additional limitations on the delegation; but its members are willing to learn, and they hope that the meeting would be fruitful.

Declaring that their intent is to further relations between the two Armed Forces, General Schons also talked about the relationship that has existed between the two Armed Forces over the years, and reaffirmed the position of the Brazilian Defence Ministry to promote military cooperation with Guyana.

General Schons expressed hope that the conversations would reinforce understanding and unity between the two countries, and deepen their integration along the border.
He also hoped the meeting would lead to greater understanding of each others’ positions and dispositions in order that the friendship could progress in the future.

General Schons also introduced his delegation to the GDF’s at the meeting yesterday.

(By Michel Outridge)