THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has, over the years, invested heavily in the community of Kaikan, a village in Region 7, where there is an army base.On Monday, GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, during a visit to the area, told the Guyana Chronicle that the army has, in every way possible, been assisting the community to lift its standard of living.

Phillips said the GDF is not only about defending borders, but also has a role in providing vital resources to communities, according to its financial and logistical capacities.

The Kaikan Hospital is currently being powered by solar energy, compliments of the GDF. Additionally, the GDF has provided the hospital with a radio system which can enable communication with other regions and arrange for medivacs whenever necessary.

The Kaikan Primary School is also a recipient of solar power through the GDF, and the system currently powers a computer, printer and other electrical equipment donated by the army.

Speaking with Kaikan residents on Monday, Brigadier Phillips recommitted the GDF to working with the community and looking after the interests of Kaikan residents. He pledged to have more developmental works in the community, once those are identified by the residents and the GDF is in a position to grant the requests.

Partnerships, especially between a community and an organisation that deals with security, are necessary, he said. They provide an atmosphere of trust and confidence in the security organization; and this in itself has positive spinoffs, the Chief-of-Staff noted.

On Monday, Brigadier Phillips made another commitment to assist the Kaikan community in building beds for the hospital, since patients have had to lie on the ground upon being admitted for observation or on awaiting medivac.

The dental chair at the hospital is presently not functioning to full capacity because certain parts need to be replaced once sourced. The GDF did some work on the chair so that the dentist could do extractions, but necessary components for the chair are yet to be sourced.

Both Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, had promised to raise the issue with the Minister of Public Health, Dr George Norton, so that the issue can be addressed as soon as possible.

By Leroy Smith