DIVORCING the “injurious” levels to which the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was taken by the former People’s National Congress (PNC) regime and the current influx of ex-military officials into the leadership of the political Opposition is a difficult endeavour.Consequently, Secretary to the Defence Board, Dr Roger Luncheon, contends that successes made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administrations since 1992 in rehabilitating the image of the armed forces are under threat.
According to him, the threats to those successes are clear when the dots are connected – when seen in light of the related dynamics of the militarisation of the political Opposition’s leadership, trust in its historical antecedence and Brigadier (rtd) David Granger’s support for the policies of the PNC regime.
“With regard to the militarisation of the body politic…there hasn’t been any repudiation that what is claimed has occurred, no rejection and no denial, that there indeed is militarisation in the leadership of the PNC/APNU (A Partnership for National Unity),” he said.

PROOF OF MILITARISATION
According to him, the fact that APNU received some support from ex-military officers in 2011 is different from what obtains in 2015.
As such, he disclosed that the current Administration has “concrete information” of the militarisation of the political Opposition, the alliance of APNU and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).
Dr Luncheon said, “When I show you the details that we have about the involvement of retired military in the leadership, not only the rank and file, but in the leadership of APNU+AFC coalition, I think you will have to agree that 2015 is a different kettle of fish than 2011.”
In addition to the APNU+AFC leader, the other senior ex-military and police officers that are now “ensconced” within the political Opposition are Lt. Col. Joseph Harmon, former Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix, Brigadier Edward Collins and more recently the immediate past Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Gary Best.
“No one has repudiated that, because they know what I know that I got the information, they know that…we have to accept the impact and the significance of this act,” he stressed.
On the question of ex-military officials, including Chiefs-of-Staff, Major General (rtd) Joe Singh and Major General (rtd) Michael Atherly, Luncheon made it clear that at no point were these men asked to pledge support to the PPP/C; rather, they are functioning in capacities that benefit Guyana and the Guyanese people. “These people got knowledge that Government could use,” he said.

TRUST ISSUES
The Defence Board Secretary lamented the fact that concerns raised by the current Administration has “fallen on deaf ears” – as is evidenced by Gary Best’s endorsement of APNU+AFC.
He said, “Our concerns have fallen [on] deaf ears, so much so that yesterday’s [immediate past] Chief of Staff is today consorting with the Opposition.
“….the engagement between the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff of the military is based on trust, trust in the exact….trust in the current relationship and trust in its historical antecedence. I am totally incapable of understanding, in the face of the reality that evolves today with a most recent departing Chief of Staff consorting with the Opposition, what this portends for the future.”
Dr Luncheon questioned the timing of Best’s endorsement and reiterated the implications.
“I can’t understand why it is being encouraged. Why, immediately after demitting office, enjoying the greatest confidence of the Commander-in-Chief, there is a situation where the immediate past Chief of Staff happily ensconced with the Opposition?” Dr Luncheon questioned.

NO DIFFERENCE
The Defence Board Secretary also underscored that there is no difference between the political players of the past and those in the leadership of the current political Opposition.
He said, “I don’t think that Brigadier (rtd) David Granger has ever hid his adoration for the work, the aims, for the policies of Mr Burnham and I suspect that (if) given an opportunity, he will not abandon those age-old beliefs and preferences and under those circumstances all I can say is ‘look out Guyana, you will be in trouble’. Heaven help the military if APNU+AFC succeed in their quest and the militarised leadership is transformed into the new government and what impact it would have on the soldiers, the officers, who now will be discharging their professional obligations under the aegis of a militarised administration.”
According to Dr Luncheon, it happened before with lesser military influence where the military was subverted and this destroyed the careers of many in the ranks.

UNPREPARED
All considered, Dr Luncheon explained that the Guyanese people were not prepared for the current happenings.
“The idea, the notion of this militarisation and the degree of the militarisation, down to the immediate past Chief of Staff consorting with the Opposition, I don’t think we prepared the Guyanese people for that…this development that has chilled my bones was totally unexpected. This was not what we have prepared the Guyanese public for…this development was not part of our conception,” he said.
The Defence Board Secretary stressed that the efforts of the PPP/C were no easy task, and reiterated that the successes ought not be threatened.
“It has been the aim and indeed been a success in the effort by this PPP/C administration to restore the confidence of the Guyanese people in the professionalism of the GDF. It wasn’t an easy task, keeping in mind the many negatives that occurred under the rule of party paramountcy, to which the then military establishment subscribed,” he stressed. (Vanessa Narine)