Joint Services heads laud President Jagdeo for his role in improving unit -- at Appreciation ceremony
Georgetown, GINA, November 17, 2011
Source - GINA
President Bharrat Jagdeo is greeted by Commissioner of Police Henry Greene upon his arrival at Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary for an appreciation ceremony hosted by the Joint Services
Members of the Joint Services (Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Prison Service) today hosted an appreciation ceremony at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, to honour and their Commander-in-Chief, President Bharrat Jagdeo, who, within a few days, will be demitting Office.
Addressing the President, Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle said that President Jagdeo, under whose tenure the Joint Services benefitted tremendously, has made some indelible marks with regards to Guyana’s development.
“There is no doubt that the Joint Services is a more cohesive unit… where they have all come together for one common goal,” he said.
He made specific reference to the President’s move to have cadets from the GPF, GFS and GPS trained in the Army to boost the human resource pool within this very important security organisation.
Gentle also spoke of the strides that the GFS has made over the past few years as a direct result of the President’s commitment to ensure that these organisations are fully mobilised to meet the needs of citizens.
Director of Prisons, Nigel Erskine said this was a very opportune time to reflect on how the Joint Services has moved to a higher level and he too highlighted the developments that the Prison Service has seen including training (for both officers and prisoners), improved accountability, and resuscitation of the agricultural aspect of the prisons among others.
Police Commissioner, Henry Greene said that President Jagdeo’s term in Office has brought tremendous and other economic success to Guyana, and highlighted some of the novel achievements that he has spearheaded including the Berbice and Takutu Bridges, Guyana National Stadium, road and water distribution networks, hospitals, schools and his efforts in the area of climate change, which earned him the title ‘Champion of the Earth’.
Joint Services officers at the appreciation ceremony for President Bharrat Jagdeo
Greene assured that the Joint Services will continue to forge ahead to ensure that safety and security are maintained in Guyana even after the President has demitted Office with the new administration.
Chief of Staff, Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best in his remarks said that the Joint Services benefitted greatly in the area of intelligence operations and recalled the expediency with which the President moved to ensure that the Army was provided with much needed air transport.
“Your leadership to and with the Joint Services has been strong…you brought a perceptive mind to the Joint Services and you kept us united despite the difficulties in Guyana,” Commodore Best said.
President Jagdeo expressed his gratitude to the Joint Services for hosting such a ceremony in his honour and said that he cherishes the work that they have done together and the achievements they have made.
The Head of State noted that his interactions with the Joint Services have been predominantly productive, even though there have been instances when he has had to speak out on certain issues.
He stated that some heads leave Office largely because of the will of the voters, while some are disposed of in other ways in societies that are undemocratic. He said that on the other hand, that he is fortunate that he is leaving Office based on the Constitution of Guyana, a change that his signature has brought into being.
Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Commodore Gary Best hands over a plaque to President Bharrat Jagdeo at an appreciation ceremony hosted by the Joint Services for the Head of State
Feeling better about Guyana
“It is absolutely good for Guyana, given our history and given the need for renewal…I depart feeling better about our country…I am pleased that during my tenure things have changed considerably,” President Jagdeo posited.
He recalled the kind of atmosphere that pervaded Guyana when he took Office and said that a lot of time has been spent on “settling” this country.
He noted that today, the country is much more stable, not as a result of rigid enforcement but because more Guyanese have a stake in it; they are looking to own something such a plot of land or a vehicle.
This stability has led to many Guyanese living abroad, returning home to be a part of the development that is taking place.
“I firmly believe that our best years are yet to come; we have worked very hard to restore stability to this land,” the Head of State said.
He noted that within the space of about 15 years, Government has paid back approximately US $1.7B in debt, and today only four percent of the country’s revenue goes towards the repayment of debt, while the rest goes towards nation building.
An officer congratulates President Bharrat Jagdeo
He also spoke of other investments particularly as it relates to mining, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and Information Communication Technology (ICT), all of which will revolutionise the country.
The President said that the new economy will see the creation of thousands of jobs and called on the soldiers, particularly those who retire early, to ensure that they leave the army with a skill to facilitate a seamless transition into that world of opportunities.
He recalled a statement made by a Presidential Candidate of one of the contesting parties, who said that he would bring in foreigners to manage the Joint Services.
“Our people shed blood to free ourselves from colonial yoke…I am not saying that we must not use external training and skills but we must have great confidence that we can manage things ourselves,” President Jagdeo said.
He noted that as a country, Guyana should never accept assistance if it comes with strings that trade sovereignty.
The President said that the Joint Services is comprised of very special agencies and he has worked to ensure that they are treated as such even though sometimes he has been flaked by other agencies because of the increases in allocations.
“You play a special role and, I have seen once again, the growing respect for the uniform,” he said.
He called on them to work to maintain standards; recognising that theirs is not always an easy job and too, that they are often criticised unfairly.
The President also called on the ranks to be vigilant and take a stand against elements in society who seeks to divide the country based on race and religion.
Georgetown, GINA, November 17, 2011
Source - GINA
President Bharrat Jagdeo is greeted by Commissioner of Police Henry Greene upon his arrival at Police Officers Mess, Eve Leary for an appreciation ceremony hosted by the Joint ServicesMembers of the Joint Services (Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Prison Service) today hosted an appreciation ceremony at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, to honour and their Commander-in-Chief, President Bharrat Jagdeo, who, within a few days, will be demitting Office.
Addressing the President, Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle said that President Jagdeo, under whose tenure the Joint Services benefitted tremendously, has made some indelible marks with regards to Guyana’s development.
“There is no doubt that the Joint Services is a more cohesive unit… where they have all come together for one common goal,” he said.
He made specific reference to the President’s move to have cadets from the GPF, GFS and GPS trained in the Army to boost the human resource pool within this very important security organisation.
Gentle also spoke of the strides that the GFS has made over the past few years as a direct result of the President’s commitment to ensure that these organisations are fully mobilised to meet the needs of citizens.
Director of Prisons, Nigel Erskine said this was a very opportune time to reflect on how the Joint Services has moved to a higher level and he too highlighted the developments that the Prison Service has seen including training (for both officers and prisoners), improved accountability, and resuscitation of the agricultural aspect of the prisons among others.
Police Commissioner, Henry Greene said that President Jagdeo’s term in Office has brought tremendous and other economic success to Guyana, and highlighted some of the novel achievements that he has spearheaded including the Berbice and Takutu Bridges, Guyana National Stadium, road and water distribution networks, hospitals, schools and his efforts in the area of climate change, which earned him the title ‘Champion of the Earth’.
Joint Services officers at the appreciation ceremony for President Bharrat JagdeoGreene assured that the Joint Services will continue to forge ahead to ensure that safety and security are maintained in Guyana even after the President has demitted Office with the new administration.
Chief of Staff, Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best in his remarks said that the Joint Services benefitted greatly in the area of intelligence operations and recalled the expediency with which the President moved to ensure that the Army was provided with much needed air transport.
“Your leadership to and with the Joint Services has been strong…you brought a perceptive mind to the Joint Services and you kept us united despite the difficulties in Guyana,” Commodore Best said.
President Jagdeo expressed his gratitude to the Joint Services for hosting such a ceremony in his honour and said that he cherishes the work that they have done together and the achievements they have made.
The Head of State noted that his interactions with the Joint Services have been predominantly productive, even though there have been instances when he has had to speak out on certain issues.
He stated that some heads leave Office largely because of the will of the voters, while some are disposed of in other ways in societies that are undemocratic. He said that on the other hand, that he is fortunate that he is leaving Office based on the Constitution of Guyana, a change that his signature has brought into being.
Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Commodore Gary Best hands over a plaque to President Bharrat Jagdeo at an appreciation ceremony hosted by the Joint Services for the Head of StateFeeling better about Guyana
“It is absolutely good for Guyana, given our history and given the need for renewal…I depart feeling better about our country…I am pleased that during my tenure things have changed considerably,” President Jagdeo posited.
He recalled the kind of atmosphere that pervaded Guyana when he took Office and said that a lot of time has been spent on “settling” this country.
He noted that today, the country is much more stable, not as a result of rigid enforcement but because more Guyanese have a stake in it; they are looking to own something such a plot of land or a vehicle.
This stability has led to many Guyanese living abroad, returning home to be a part of the development that is taking place.
“I firmly believe that our best years are yet to come; we have worked very hard to restore stability to this land,” the Head of State said.
He noted that within the space of about 15 years, Government has paid back approximately US $1.7B in debt, and today only four percent of the country’s revenue goes towards the repayment of debt, while the rest goes towards nation building.
An officer congratulates President Bharrat JagdeoHe also spoke of other investments particularly as it relates to mining, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and Information Communication Technology (ICT), all of which will revolutionise the country.
The President said that the new economy will see the creation of thousands of jobs and called on the soldiers, particularly those who retire early, to ensure that they leave the army with a skill to facilitate a seamless transition into that world of opportunities.
He recalled a statement made by a Presidential Candidate of one of the contesting parties, who said that he would bring in foreigners to manage the Joint Services.
“Our people shed blood to free ourselves from colonial yoke…I am not saying that we must not use external training and skills but we must have great confidence that we can manage things ourselves,” President Jagdeo said.
He noted that as a country, Guyana should never accept assistance if it comes with strings that trade sovereignty.
The President said that the Joint Services is comprised of very special agencies and he has worked to ensure that they are treated as such even though sometimes he has been flaked by other agencies because of the increases in allocations.
“You play a special role and, I have seen once again, the growing respect for the uniform,” he said.
He called on them to work to maintain standards; recognising that theirs is not always an easy job and too, that they are often criticised unfairly.
The President also called on the ranks to be vigilant and take a stand against elements in society who seeks to divide the country based on race and religion.
