THE hierarchy of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are now having their attention engaged by serving members of the respective forces posting on social media photographs of themselves carrying weapons and ammunition, accompanied by various statuses.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle earlier this week, GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, related that the practice is one that is causing the administration of the army much concern, and the situation is even more worrying when the persons posting those photographs post statuses which are not in keeping with the oath they would have taken when they joined the organisation.
Brigadier Phillips was speaking specifically to the photographs which appear on Facebook, WhatsApp, Blackberry Messenger, Instagram Twitter and other social media sites, where ranks of the GDF are holding service weapons and/or live rounds and having the images commented upon by members of the public.

He said the Guyana Defence Force has already taken a position that, very soon, all its ranks would be informed of a Force policy against the posting of such photographs. Disclosing that the matter had been raised before, he said the way forward is being addressed internally.

He was, however, clear that those who continue to make postings of such photographs can find themselves in trouble with the GDF if they persist with the practice.
And on the same subject, Crime Chief of the Guyana Police Force, Commander Leslie James, told this newspaper that the matter had never commanded priority attention in the GPF, being never discussed at management level nor deliberated upon at policy level, but the posting of such images should be of concern to the administration of the GPF.

He said he would be raising the matter with senior officers of the GPF and would bring same to the attention of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.

The Crime Chief said that posting of those particular photographs and their accompanying comments could and does have implications for the provision of security for the nation, hence the practice would be addressed.
Recently reported by another section of the media on social media, the issue has already begun to receive position responses from members of the public, who have concluded that the security forces took too long to arrive at the position that the postings are improper.

“Thank God!”, “What took them so long?”, “Finally!” and “Good!” were some of the comments expressed by persons who heard of the decision of the security forces to censure the practice.