Commander in Chief opens National Rest Home for military veterans - declares it a subvention agency
Georgetown, GINA November 24, 2011
Source - GINA
The newly commissioned National Veterans’ Rest Home
Commander-in - Chief of the armed forces, President Bharat Jagdeo today cut the ribbon and unveiled a plaque to commission the National Veterans’ Rest Home in Essequibo Street, Lamaha Springs, Georgetown. The Home is meant to provide for the needs of veterans who have fallen on hard times.
President Jagdeo commended the efforts of the persons who conceived the concept and brought it to fruition, persevering through difficult times, and added that it was important that such facilities are built.
However, he pointed out that more fundamental thought should be given to what would happen to people when they leave government service, particularly military service.
“As most of you know, many people leave military service at a very early age, when they are still in their prime of life, and when they still have a lot of contributions to make to the country and to themselves,’ the President observed.
He explained that several years ago, he told the current Chief of Staff, “that we have to ensure that every soldier leaves the army with a skill. And at the senior level, they should all go off to university so that they could acquire a degree. At junior levels we should start an aggressive technical vocational training programme to see that people have skills, and as the economy evolves more and more, those skills will be relevant so people won’t leave the army and end up in a state of penury.”
Enid Bissember, widow of Major Michael Bissember cuts the ribbon to commission the Veteran’s Rest Home. Looking on are: Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best and President of the Guyana Legion, Colonel (retired) Carl Morgan. President Bharat Jagdeo is behind Mrs. Bissember.
President Jagdeo stated that if these persons can find productive and well paying jobs then they would be able to avoid having to go to a rest home, because they will be able to afford their own homes. He posited that Government would have to ensure that the programme is continued.
“The resources we have given are just a fraction of what we do to ensure that our military continues to grow,” said the President, “not just military, but our disciplined services, continue to grow in comfort and capacity and capability,” he added.
The Head of State expressed the opinion that the opening of the Rest Home was speeded up to take place before National Elections, “because they want me to make some further commitments that may be binding on the new government. I even got the signal that they will, when they approach the new president, say that that commitment was made by the former president,” he added.
Col. Morgan demonstrates to President Bharrat Jagdeo how the hydraulic lift works to move old veterans from one level to the next.
President Jagdeo explained that about two weeks ago the Chief of Staff told him that $8M more was needed to complete the works, “and I said fine. Then he took it from somewhere, I don’t know where, maybe from some of the funds they have internally. I must tell you I have instructed the Minister of Finance to return the $8M to you so that you don’t get into trouble taking soldiers’ funds.”
The Commander in Chief has also instructed the Minister of Finance that the Rest Home should become a subvention agency and as such the Board will receive a subvention from the government to help to make it operational and continue to serve people.
The concept for the home was presented to the Guyana Veterans’ Foundation shortly after its establishment in 1995 by ex-Captain Oscar Pollard. It was well received by the President, Prime Minister, several ex-Chiefs of Staff and the Head of the Commonwealth Services League. The estimated cost of the building was $50M and the first donors were serving servicemen. Others were the late David De Caires, Major General (retired) Joseph Singh, and the late Major Michael Bissember. Ex-Major Joe Skeete of the Coast Guard, made a large financial contribution as well as several flat screen televisions, with further plans to create a computer lab in the building. Ex soldiers of Canada, the Royal Canadian ex-services League and the Royal Canadian Legion also contributed greatly. The MMC security firm was responsible for installing a lift to assist persons to move from one level to the other.
Initially, however, the funds were slow in coming and although the foundation had already been poured for a three-storeyed building, it was decided to build a two-storeyed building instead. Work proceeded slowly with the hope that maybe, the Government would step in and assist. The Commander-in-Chief did not disappoint the veterans.
In 2009, President Bharat Jagdeo donated $5M towards the project. In 2010, the President expressed the desire to see the project completed more quickly and gave another $40M. Today the Veterans’ Rest Home has been completed and commissioned by the Commander-in-Chief.
Trustee of the Veterans Foundation and President of the Guyana Legion Colonel (retired) Carl Morgan described the construction as a ‘labour of love’. He said that the home will be registered in December as a Friendly Society. Col. Morgan also expressed the hope that other homes of this nature will be built.
Meanwhile Commodore Gary Best pledged the continued support of the Defence Force towards the Guyana Legion to support the efforts for veterans across the country. Commodore Best said that the army will “continue to lobby the government to ensure that provisions continue to come in regularly, more frequent and more often,” he said.
He pledged the GDF’s continued contribution towards the enhancement of veterans’ affairs in Guyana.
Georgetown, GINA November 24, 2011
Source - GINA
The newly commissioned National Veterans’ Rest HomeCommander-in - Chief of the armed forces, President Bharat Jagdeo today cut the ribbon and unveiled a plaque to commission the National Veterans’ Rest Home in Essequibo Street, Lamaha Springs, Georgetown. The Home is meant to provide for the needs of veterans who have fallen on hard times.
President Jagdeo commended the efforts of the persons who conceived the concept and brought it to fruition, persevering through difficult times, and added that it was important that such facilities are built.
However, he pointed out that more fundamental thought should be given to what would happen to people when they leave government service, particularly military service.
“As most of you know, many people leave military service at a very early age, when they are still in their prime of life, and when they still have a lot of contributions to make to the country and to themselves,’ the President observed.
He explained that several years ago, he told the current Chief of Staff, “that we have to ensure that every soldier leaves the army with a skill. And at the senior level, they should all go off to university so that they could acquire a degree. At junior levels we should start an aggressive technical vocational training programme to see that people have skills, and as the economy evolves more and more, those skills will be relevant so people won’t leave the army and end up in a state of penury.”
Enid Bissember, widow of Major Michael Bissember cuts the ribbon to commission the Veteran’s Rest Home. Looking on are: Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best and President of the Guyana Legion, Colonel (retired) Carl Morgan. President Bharat Jagdeo is behind Mrs. Bissember.President Jagdeo stated that if these persons can find productive and well paying jobs then they would be able to avoid having to go to a rest home, because they will be able to afford their own homes. He posited that Government would have to ensure that the programme is continued.
“The resources we have given are just a fraction of what we do to ensure that our military continues to grow,” said the President, “not just military, but our disciplined services, continue to grow in comfort and capacity and capability,” he added.
The Head of State expressed the opinion that the opening of the Rest Home was speeded up to take place before National Elections, “because they want me to make some further commitments that may be binding on the new government. I even got the signal that they will, when they approach the new president, say that that commitment was made by the former president,” he added.
Col. Morgan demonstrates to President Bharrat Jagdeo how the hydraulic lift works to move old veterans from one level to the next.President Jagdeo explained that about two weeks ago the Chief of Staff told him that $8M more was needed to complete the works, “and I said fine. Then he took it from somewhere, I don’t know where, maybe from some of the funds they have internally. I must tell you I have instructed the Minister of Finance to return the $8M to you so that you don’t get into trouble taking soldiers’ funds.”
The Commander in Chief has also instructed the Minister of Finance that the Rest Home should become a subvention agency and as such the Board will receive a subvention from the government to help to make it operational and continue to serve people.
The concept for the home was presented to the Guyana Veterans’ Foundation shortly after its establishment in 1995 by ex-Captain Oscar Pollard. It was well received by the President, Prime Minister, several ex-Chiefs of Staff and the Head of the Commonwealth Services League. The estimated cost of the building was $50M and the first donors were serving servicemen. Others were the late David De Caires, Major General (retired) Joseph Singh, and the late Major Michael Bissember. Ex-Major Joe Skeete of the Coast Guard, made a large financial contribution as well as several flat screen televisions, with further plans to create a computer lab in the building. Ex soldiers of Canada, the Royal Canadian ex-services League and the Royal Canadian Legion also contributed greatly. The MMC security firm was responsible for installing a lift to assist persons to move from one level to the other.
Initially, however, the funds were slow in coming and although the foundation had already been poured for a three-storeyed building, it was decided to build a two-storeyed building instead. Work proceeded slowly with the hope that maybe, the Government would step in and assist. The Commander-in-Chief did not disappoint the veterans.
In 2009, President Bharat Jagdeo donated $5M towards the project. In 2010, the President expressed the desire to see the project completed more quickly and gave another $40M. Today the Veterans’ Rest Home has been completed and commissioned by the Commander-in-Chief.
Trustee of the Veterans Foundation and President of the Guyana Legion Colonel (retired) Carl Morgan described the construction as a ‘labour of love’. He said that the home will be registered in December as a Friendly Society. Col. Morgan also expressed the hope that other homes of this nature will be built.
Meanwhile Commodore Gary Best pledged the continued support of the Defence Force towards the Guyana Legion to support the efforts for veterans across the country. Commodore Best said that the army will “continue to lobby the government to ensure that provisions continue to come in regularly, more frequent and more often,” he said.
He pledged the GDF’s continued contribution towards the enhancement of veterans’ affairs in Guyana.
an example of an assisted living facility for veterans. We have lots of trees so we should not have these ugly claustrophobic settings. Where the hell is the yard space?