–Contends it shortchanges taxpayers
COMMANDER-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Guyana, President Donald Ramotar yesterday registered his concern at the number of Guyana Defence Force ranks who continue to go AWOL (absent without leave), noting that this practice short-changes the taxpayers who have to stand the expense of ensuring they are trained.

“I am particularly concerned with the number of persons who are listed as AWOL,” the President said, adding:

“Those who stay away from duty without authorization are imperilling the future of the army and affecting the security of our country. They are also short-changing the taxpayers of this country whose hard earned tax dollars would have provided for their training. Being absent without leave also constitutes a serious form of indiscipline which must be rooted out from the military.”

He added that the military service is unlike other jobs where one can just simply opt out as they please. The Head of State was at the time addressing 15 Ensigns of the Standard Officers Course, Number 46, yesterday at Base Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown.

Commander-in-Chief Ramotar told the Ensigns that at all times they should make the institution proud of them and they will achieve this with a professional approach. They must always take their assignments with true dedication and service to the nation as it is vital to upholding the integrity of the Guyana Defence Force, he added.
He said further that their willingness to learn is not only of benefit to them but the GDF and the country as a whole and so they ought to grab every new training opportunity.
In the last six years from 2008 to 2013, the Government of Guyana has spent 39 billion, seven hundred million dollars on the Guyana Defence Force and there is still a lot more which has to be spent to ensure that the GDF becomes a modern army as it should be, President Ramotar declared.
He urged the ranks of the GDF to exercise care for the resources, namely the vehicles and equipment which have all been purchased with taxpayers’ dollars and for them to treat the vehicles as if they were their personal property, to ensure that the capital goods give maximum service.
Mr. Ramotar pointed out that because of the size of the country and population and resources available, there must be the distinct understanding between quantity and quality. He pointed out that while the traditional role of the army has been to secure and maintain the integrity of the nation’s borders, those days have changed and the army can no longer be restricted to that role alone, given the emerging threats the world is facing today.
Yesterday, the 15 Ensigns were promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenants, with a few of the newly promoted officers representing armed forces outside of Guyana.
Written By Leroy Smith