…President appeals to joint services ahead of elections

IN an open letter to members of the Disciplined Services, President David Granger assured them that the improved quality of life and work experienced under his administration will continue on an upward trajectory with the coalition in power.

In the letter penned on Saturday, the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces reminded the Disciplined Services that the political party elected to government will have authority over them at the most crucial point in Guyana’s post-independence history.

He urged the men and women in uniform to therefore choose the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change’s (APNU+AFC) administration, which has acted in their best interests and will work to “unleash the full potential of the Disciplined Services.”

“On February 21, 2020, you the members of the Disciplined Forces will go to the polls to cast your vote. This is a vote that will have significant impact on the future of your respective organisations, your careers and generations to come. A vote for the continued development, considerations and progress of the Disciplined Forces must be a vote for the APNU+AFC, an administration that has worked assiduously to keep promises made five years ago; an administration that has allowed members of the Disciplined Services to enjoy improved quality of life through increased wages that will continually be evaluated and increased,” the President wrote.

He stressed that Guyana needs a well-commanded, well-trained, well-equipped defence force with the core capabilities of keeping citizens safe and securing the nation.

In the open letter, President Granger pledged to continue implementing the ‘Total National Defence’ policy, which he had initiated in October 2015, along with “millions more” for soldiers to properly execute their mandate to protect citizens from domestic and foreign threats.

BETTER SALARIES

Detailing some of the improvements to expect, the President pointed to further increases in salaries and allowances and affordable housing for all members of the Disciplined Services — with priority to lower ranks.

Members of the Disciplined Services are among those who have benefitted from an overall increase of 77 per cent since the APNU+AFC took office in May, 2015 and a nine per cent increase in the minimum wage for 2019.
While it took the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration nine years to move the minimum wage from $26,070 in 2006 to $39,570 in 2015, the current administration increased it from $39,570 in 2015 to $70,000 in 2019 – in less than five years.

BETTER EQUIPPED

The Head of State has maintained that the GDF is better today than five years ago as under his administration, funding to the GDF has increased from $8B in 2014 to $13.9 billion in 2019.

“These improvements will continue over the next 10 years,” he promised in January 2020 during his address at the GDF Annual Officers Conference at State House.

Apart from salaries, the President said that members of the Disciplined Services can expect millions more to be invested in equipment, infrastructure, protective gear, training, technology and transportation.

Over the last few years the force’s technical corps has been improved; the Air Corps’ fleet acquired light reconnaissance aircraft; the Engineer Corps received equipment to enhance the force’s agility and improve its responsiveness to eliminate climate hazards; the force acquired drones for border surveillance; the Technical Corps was upgraded and equipment recapitalised; the Safe City system was implemented; the Guyana People’s Militia was reformed and the Guyana National Cadet Corps (GNCC) was resuscitated.
Added to this, traffic ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been trained to respond to suspected cases of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and domestic violence; new police divisions have been created in several regions and there is improved security in the hinterland

President Granger also pledged that under an APNU+AFC government, the upgrading of police stations with modern conveniences and technology will continue, while prison facilities will continue to be improved to ensure the comfortable execution of duties by prison officers.

Contracts worth millions were only months ago awarded for the upgrading of several police stations, while works have commenced on the expansion of the Mazaruni Prison with 12 living quarters for prison staffers already completed, even as plans for portable steel cells at the Camp Street Prison are moving apace.

DULY RECOGNISED

In his letter, the retired Brigadier also stated that members of the force can expect intensification of the professionalisation of the Disciplined Services with a merit-based system for promotions.

History was made in 2019 when Immigration Officer Towanna Crandon-Primo, was recognised for her brilliance as a Joint Service member of the GPF annual Christmas Award Ceremony.

It was the first time a Joint Services member was recognised and Crandon-Primo was the immigration officer who documented a forged ID card of Benvolio Valenski, a wanted man in Canada, back in September 2019.

Meanwhile, some 35 officers of the GDF were promoted with effect from January 1, 2020, after approval was given by the President and another 783 other ranks also received promotions.

Under an APNU+AFC administration, members of the force can also expect the recruitment of more personnel for the Disciplined Forces.

“You must be reminded that the next government will be afforded the opportunity to exercise authority over the Disciplined Services through a period of Guyana’s rapid economic transformation. I respectfully ask for your vote to be in a position to guide our country through the commencement of its biggest developmental experience since our independence,” the President told the Disciplined Services.

Members of the Disciplined Services will cast their votes in the 2020 General and Regional Elections on February 21, 2020, to ensure their availability on E-Day, March 2, 2020.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) last reported that plans are moving smoothly to facilitate voting with a total of 10,226 ballot papers already extracted.

There will be 47 ballots for Region One; 282 for Region Two; 1,482 for Region Three; 5,324 for Region Four; 976 for Region Five; 1,328 for Region Six; 61 for Region Seven; 17 for Region Eight; 29 for Region Nine; and 680 for Region 10.