THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will be represented at the start of a five-day multi-national maritime security and disaster response exercise which commenced on Tuesday in Chaguaramas and will continue until June 17.
Twenty-One ranks of the GDF departed Guyana to participate in Exercise Tradewinds 2017, which is being held in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago , respectively.

Exercise TRADEWINDS is a multinational maritime interdiction, ground security and inter-agency exercise led by the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). It is an annual Caribbean-focused exercise which includes executive-level leadership and provides an opportunity for participating nations to collaborate on challenges to ensure regional security.
The Exercise opened on June 6 with an Official Ceremony in Barbados, where the first phase of the exercise took place. Major Eon Murray is heading the delegation.

The United States military-led exercise within the Caribbean region started in the mid-80s. Involved are 20 partnering nations including Bermuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts/Nevis, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, Surinam and Guyana. There would also be international assistance and participation by the U.S., Canada, France, Netherlands and Mexico.
The US has contributed US$3M for the exercise.