THE Guyana Defence Force acknowledges the report in the Kaieteur News dated Monday January 28, 2013.
The Chief-of-Staff has already begun to speak to miners in the area and will dispatch an investigative team headed by a Lieutenant Colonel and Guyana Police Force ranks immediately to the area.
“The Force asks that the mining community cooperate with our investigators so we can get to the bottom of these allegations.

The GDF wishes to categorically state that any GDF ranks found culpable of this dastardly act will face the full brunt of Court Martial Proceedings or the Civil Law. Further, the Guyana Defence Force intends to ask for the maximum penalty for anyone found guilty.
“The Guyana Defence Force wishes to assure all miners of all nationalities that soldiers are not authorised to conduct any mining operations except with the permission of the Chief Mining Officer. “No such mining operations are currently authorised.  “In this regard, the mining community is advised that the Force will not tolerate its ranks committing offences and wishes to assure all miners that there must be no fear of recrimination by anyone in the Force. “Any suggestion of recrimination by any serving rank must also be reported and those involved will also face the full brunt of the law.
This is a very serious matter and it will have the full rigour of our investigations.
“The GDF is committed to making the mining community a safe zone so our citizens and international investors can ply their trade peacefully.”