CHIEF-OF-STAFF Brigadier Godfrey Bess and other members of the Guyana Defence Force’s leadership, on Tuesday, hosted Director of the Inter- American Defence College (IACD), Major General James Taylor, for a collaborative discussion at the Officers’ Club, Base Camp Ayanganna.
Major General Taylor was accompanied by his Executive Director, Major Greg Carter.

The IADC is an international educational institution operating as an element of the Organisation of American States (OAS) through the Inter-American Defence Board.

It provides a professionally oriented, multidisciplinary, graduate-level course of study for senior military officers as well as government officials. Several past and serving officers of the GDF have completed training at the college.

The college is located in Washington DC, USA and its training is open to countries of this hemisphere.
Brigadier Bess, in brief remarks, welcomed Major General Taylor and thanked him for visiting the GDF as well as for his passion to collaborate.
The two officials had met last year and during preliminary talks, examined possibilities for training and continued partnership.

Brigadier Bess emphasised that the complex security landscape called for countries like Guyana to rely on the support of partner nations.
Major General Taylor, in remarks, said he was elated to finally come to Guyana, a country which he said he has always longed to visit.

He indicated his intent to work with the GDF in training and building capacity in the Officer Corps. He pointed out that the IADC essentially seeks to educate leaders to solve complex problems.

Touching on the many complex security issues facing countries, he noted that in order for them to be fixed, countries must recognise their complexity, address them as they exist in each country and work together in order to do so.

As such, he said, the Guyana perspective is necessary so as to ensure that the hemisphere stays a safe environment, where democracy can thrive and prosperity can flourish.

During the formal but interactive meeting, the senior officers explored several pertinent issues in military training, particularly with regard to improving capacity at the senior officer level.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips is among a number of officers who completed studies at the IADC. Colonel Ronald Hercules is currently at the college undergoing training.