AMIDST the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, Government and the Guyana Defence Force are assuring residents of Kaikan, Region Seven, that the administration remains committed to them and their interests.On Monday, the first official working day for 2016, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge; Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock; and Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier General Mark Phillips, visited the residents of the area. The visit saw Government recommitting to people in that area, as it was made clear that they have not been neglected and the authorities will not sit idly by and allow their lands, and the Essequibo, to be taken away.

Only recently, a Venezuela-registered helicopter landed on an airstrip at Kaikan, Region 7, with approximately eight heavily armed Venezuelan soldiers. The Guyana Chronicle was told that when the helicopter landed, there were two Amerindian women close by, and as is customary when an aircraft lands at the airstrip, they rushed towards it.

The women, who had subsequently spoken to the police, stated that as they approached the aircraft, two of the men, with their guns in hand, disembarked and advanced towards them. The men enquired from the women if the area they had landed at was Sanguan, a farm in Venezuela. The women responded in the negative and informed the armed men that they had in fact landed at Kaikan in Guyana. Sanguan in Venezuela also has Amerindian settlers, according to online sources.

After being told they were in the wrong place, the men re-boarded the helicopter and left the area.

During the visit on Monday, Brigadier Phillips spoke of the continued development works and assistance that the GDF would give to the community to make more comfortable the lives of the residents, even as he made mention of several initiatives which were undertaken by the military for the community.

During his opening remarks, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, told the residents that his presence at the location was to have a first-hand experience of their living conditions, and to hear from them what issues are affecting them, so that he could better represent their interest on the international front, especially on the issue of development at the border locations.

He explained that anywhere there is a large or small gathering of people, and the army has a presence, there are usually some concerns; but, in many cases, such as the case at Kaikan, the need for the army’s presence there is necessary.

He was forced to make the comment after some residents spoke briefly about the presence of the army at the location, and asked about their role there.

The residents used the opportunity to call for more police presence in the area, a move that would complement the presence of the army. There is already a police base in the area. The army does not patrol the actual community, but are mostly confined to the outskirts of the community, in keeping with their activities of patrolling the Region Seven area to identify and define aggression. There are times when the army would venture into the community whenever they receive intelligence that there might be illegal activities and/or operations at the airstrip in the area.

The residents, however, are not happy with the men always carrying their guns whenever they are seen, but according to Brigadier Phillips, the nature of the work of the army does not permit otherwise. They spoke of an issue following the landing of the Venezuela chopper in December, carrying military men who had guns. The residents said that after the chopper had left the area, the army came to the location with guns in hand and were interrogating them. That offended the residents, who said that the army did not need to come with guns if they needed to question persons.

Vice President Greenidge encouraged the GDF to start working on striking a balance to ensure that their operations and presence do not result in a disruption of the lives and daily operations of the community. According to Greenidge, one of his primary objectives over the next few years, as he serves as the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, is to ensure that he fixes the Venezuela/Guyana controversy so that the village of Kaikan can be safe.

He spoke of the measures already taken by the present administration to again approach the United Nations, Caricom, Commonwealth, United States and other international bodies on the issue.

Building capacity
In his remarks, Vice President Sydney Allicock told the gathering that it is the intention of the Government to develop the airport in the area, and to build capacity in the community in an effort to forge closer ties between the community, Government and the armed forces. He reminded them that the village leader is not the boss or the one who calls the shots, but rather it is them, the villagers, and they need to hold their council accountable.
Allicock, like Minister Greenidge, was clear in pointing out that the village is not alone, and should never feel that way since they have a caring Government. Minister Allicock commended the residents for also making representation for a visit by himself; the Foreign Affairs Minister; and, for the third time, the Chief of Staff.

Meanwhile, on the call for more police in the area, Allicock said that the issue would be raised at the appropriate level, even as he assured that there would always be opportunity for the police and army to work together in the area to ensure the safety of residents living there, and to encourage the residents to always be part of the discussions.

A suggestion was also put forward by one villager for the establishment of a Community Policing Group to help patrol thecommunity and be on the lookout for intruders.

Empty promises
Additionally, residents spoke of several other issues which they said need to be addressed, and demanded that empty promises to the community — like the ones they received under the last

administration — become a thing of the past. They spoke of a promise by a senior government official in the previous administration, who had assured them that the GDF would be withdrawn from the area. The residents were, however, informed by the Foreign Affairs Minister that there is no way a government minister or any other official can make such a decision without the matter being discussed at the level of the Cabinet and the Defence Board. That promise was given to the village after an incident wherein soldiers had allegedly broken into the home of a resident a few years ago. Some of the items were recovered by the army, and that rank has since been placed before the courts and been dismissed from the army.

Since that incident, the GDF has taken a decision to have ranks serving at the location rotated every three months, so that they do not become complacent and/or get into conflict with the residents.

Among the other persons accompanying the team were: Adviser to Minister Allicock, Mervyn Williams; Sector Commander, Captain Cleon Coppin; Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Fitzroy Phillips; and Commander Lieutenant Roger Nurse.

By Leroy Smith

Photos by Leroy Smith.