– paves way for rebirth of National Cadet Corps

THE teen camp of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM) has been hailed as a “resounding success”.Ninety-six teenage males from four administrative regions converged on the GPM Headquarters at Base Camp Seweyo on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway from August 23 to 26 to learn more about the GPM and Guyana, and to have wholesome fun, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has stated.

The youths were able to gain insights into Conflict Resolution, and were taught about Guyana’s National Policy, which included learning about the Members of Parliament and the various Ministries of the Government. They were also taught basic military drills and field craft; the use of silent signals in patrolling; survival techniques; and the basics of jungle training, including how to build shelters, traps, and various rope knots.

The participants, between 14 and 16 years old, can be drafted into the National Cadet Corps; and, as such, the camp can be seen as the formation of the nucleus of the National Cadet Corps, the GDF has stated in a press release.

Moreover, the GDF said that, in 2015, the Commander-in-Chief (CIC) of the Armed Forces, President David Granger, announced the re-introduction of the National Cadet Corps, which is aimed at enabling the nation’s youths to develop basic leadership skills, and afford them the opportunity to learn more about, and explore, Guyana. The President has indicated that militarisation is not the focus of the National Cadet Corps, but rather the provision of an environment for recreation and social growth.

Commandant of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM), Colonel Patrick West, has said: “This is the rebirth of the National Cadet Corps. We successfully provided beneficial interactions for 96 male teenagers this time around, and it is hoped that we’ll be able to witness their return, as well as to positively impact many others in 2017.”