THIS action against some Guyanese, even though the Guyana Defence Force acted in accordance with the directives of the military court, must be tempered with human kindness. As far as I know, the law must be tempered with mercy and the judiciary should see the other side of the coin! A while back, I saw that three young under-privileged youths were jailed for 3 years each. These are possible scenarios: A young Guyanese, just out of school, is looking for gainful employment to sustain his or her family, or someone from another age group, not employed sees and admires the screen saver of the GDF.
The Guyana Defence Force is seen as a viable option; so that person applies, passes the recruitment interview and subsequent background checks. They are trained, survive the rigors of induction, and are successful. Now this is a proud enlisted member of the Guyana Defence Force, who is deemed by all and sundry as a military person, subjected to Military Law, in accordance with the Defence Act, Chapter 15:01 of the Guyana Constitution.
If, for some reason, this free, law-abiding citizen who sought and got gainful employment from the Guyana Defence Force, decides that this “wuk” is not to their liking and leaves it without authorization, a problem now arises and their actions are now deemed by the Army as being AWOL.
When caught, they are arrested, in accordance with Section 178 of the Defence Act, which stipulates their detention. After they are court-martialled and found guilty, lo and behold, this former law-abiding citizen’s life is now destroyed because now we have cast into society a convicted felon who can never do right in the eyes of society, or ever get another proper job.
This is peace-time, and one should have the right to refuse continued employment with any entity; even the army. Imagine, if all the persons that have left my employ for greener pastures without sending in their resignations are criminalized by being sent to jail for three years! Employers do not fire good employees; and employees do not leave jobs they are comfortable in.
Could the illustrious Brig. General, Mr. Mark Philips, please take the necessary steps to repeal or temper this law? Let them serve the 21 or 42 days in the military prison, and be dishonourably discharged! It is unfair, and bordering on a slave master’s mentality to inflict the punishment of three years in a civilian prison. This was handed down to persons who were once free, proud Guyanese. These individuals should be allowed to make a choice. If “They don’t want the wuk”, they should be allowed to leave in peace and struck off strength, not turned into a criminal for life.
I was told of the hardships and “punishment” one would endure when they voiced their disapproval of “orders”. What is acceptable to one individual will be intolerable to another free, proud Guyanese. History has shown that a disgruntled, brooding employee is very dangerous. ‘Full Metal Jacket’, a fictional movie comes to mind. After an announced absence of three days, an employee would have been deemed to have left the job in accordance with the Labour Laws of Guyana.
Remember the old Guyanese proverb? “Come see meh and come live with meh, is two different t’ing” and “Once a soldier; twice a civilian”. I was inducing my last son to join the Guyana Defence Force’s officer corps and follow tradition, but decided against it after seeing the justice of the Guyana Defence Force.
The Guyana Defence Force missed out on a future officer that would have made Guyana proud. The Guyana Defence Force’s screen-saver and the real programme are two completely different environments. I know; I was in there, and it was tolerable then.

Former member of the GDF Officer Corp, Air Command