SERVICE to one’s country is the highest and most important form of service; and, as such, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman believes that such service should be respected and rewarded.The Minister made these comments during opening remarks on Monday before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the conditions and circumstances facing veterans of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Peoples Militia, and the Guyana National Service (GNS).

In a press release, Minister Trotman said that service to one’s country involves “protecting and advancing the values, ideals, symbols and patrimony of the state and people”, and should therefore be treasured and set apart for the highest commendation.

“[The duty performed by] our men and women who served, are serving, and are yet to serve is one which goes beyond earning a mere salary. It is a sacred trust, one that is bestowed when we place our confidence in them to secure our borders; to protect and serve; to punish and rehabilitate offenders; and to rescue us from the ravages of fire and other calamities,” Minister Trotman said.

As a result, those who have served honourably deserve to be treated equitably upon completion of their service, he posited.

The Minister then proposed possible perspectives on how his Ministry can support the cause of the veterans of Guyana. The first included recognition that the veterans must be given an inheritance, or parts of the patrimony which they protect and defend, whether in the form of housing, mining, farming or forestry.

The second included the setting aside of mining lands for individual service men and women, or for large groups structured around a syndicate. The third recommendation included the setting aside of royalties collected from mining for addition to veterans’ pensions in the same way that 20% of mining royalties are set aside for Amerindian communities.

Fourth, the Minister said that veterans who are fit to work beyond the legal age of retirement can be given the chance to occupy the position of wardens and compliance officers, to address illegal mining and environmental degradation; interdiction; prevention of smuggling of gold, diamonds, wildlife and plants; and enforcement of laws and regulations.

The Minister added that there needs to be a reintroduction of some service that can be offered to youth, so that they can learn the values of patriotism, responsibility and brotherhood, traits that the Minister himself learned by being part of the Guyana National Service. Should this be implemented, he said, the nation would be comprised of people who “respect the state, its symbols, ourselves, and each other”.

The Commission of Inquiry was tasked by President David Granger to examine the conditions and circumstances facing veterans of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana People’s Militia and the Guyana National Service (GNS); and to look into the living conditions of veterans and make recommendations for improvements. A Motion for creation of the Commission was approved in the National Assembly in November 2013 under the Peoples’ Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration, but did not materialise until President Granger took office.