GUYANA Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best declared open the Brazilian Language Class at Coast Guard Ship Hinds, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, on Monday.
He said, over the years, he has seen the military relationship between the two countries strengthen and recalled his training days in Brazil, where he learnt to speak Portuguese.
Best said, since the signing of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, the level of collaboration between the two militaries have developed, significantly, in the area of training etc.
He noted that the start of the Language Class will fill the gap in the barrier between the two nations and improve the quality of relations and he encouraged Guyanese soldiers to embrace the Portuguese language and culture.
Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Luif Andrade said the commencement of the classes goes to show the increased cooperation between the two militaries over the years.
Giving an overview of the venture, GDF Colonel Clement Baird told the gathering that bilateral training between the militaries of Guyana and Brazil began in the 1970s when the training focused on basic skill areas and jungle warfare and paratrooping disciplines.
He said, later, the scales of training were broadened to include the whole spectrum of military disciplines.
Baird said, to date, members of the GDF have graduated from physical training,  intelligence, military, artillery, medical transportation and paratrooping/maintenance schools, Captain’s career and senior staff courses, among others.
“As we are aware, the candidates on those courses encountered varying degrees of difficulties to communicate and there was the recognition that prior formal language training was required to assure success,” he said.
Baird said the Brazilian Embassy saw it fit to facilitate this training by providing a trained language teacher to prepare future participants.
He said the language courses target four distinct audiences, such as officers and ranks identified to complete training in Brazil in 2010/2011; cadets who would ensure that local officers have a sound grounding in Portuguese to improve the level of communication with Brazilian soldiers on the border and officers and ranks interested in learning a foreign language but do not fall into the previously listed categories.
Baird said the classes would be conducted at Coast Guard Ship Hinds, Camp Stephenson and, later, at Base Camp Ayanganna, in March.