Guyana Defence Force Chief-of-Staff Gary Best yesterday said that the army is moving ahead with a complete review of the country’s defence strategy.

He added that work on the initiative is expected to begin in a month’s time.

He made the disclosure at the conclusion of the Junior Officers’ Coast Guard course opening ceremony at the Coast Guard Headquarters at Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Best said that the review is to determine if the present one is in the best interest of the state, and it will be internally analysed and funded by the state.

Commodore Best explained that the review poses a number of security questions to the GDF, and these will be answered through field testing and reports.

Based on the study, a number of inputs will dictate what the GDF does with the nation’s security and defence plan.

It is hoped that this process will conclude within 13 months.

Best noted that this move can be seen as timely, taking into consideration Venezuela claim to a part of the Essequibo area.