Joint Services ready to maintain state of normalcy over elections period
THE HEADS of the Joint Services met for final operational briefing and have assured the Guyana populace that they are fully prepared and ready to ensure that today’s General and Regional Elections is executed in a safe, secure and stable environment, and a state of normalcy is maintained throughout the period.Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Mark Phillips and Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud met with the top brass of the Security Services on Friday last.
Brigadier Mark Phillips and Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud following the operational briefing
According to a public statement issued subsequently, “Commanders at all levels are now clear on their duties and tasks, to ensure the stability and security of the nation is maintained during the entire election and post-election period.”
Troops are currently deployed to all regions across the country and have been urged to maintain their professionalism at all times and under all circumstances.
In addition they will ensure that their actions are in keeping with the legal framework governing their conduct in Internal Security Operations.
The Guyana Defence Force is deployed in all Police Divisions so that at short notice they will be ready to assist the police should the need arise.
Earlier this year ranks from the Security Services were engaged in remedial training ahead of today’s historic poll.
A media release from the GDF at the time had stated that, “the training is timely in wake of Guyana’s preparation for the 2015 General and Regional Elections.”
That round of training was geared towards the middle and lower echelons of the services and was meant to exercise the junior command element in managing different internal security scenarios.
During training, ranks reviewed regulations, laws and procedures, and acquainted themselves with their specific roles in Internal Security Operations.
The GDF is not the lead agency in the conduct of Internal Security Operations, and the Inter-Services Training brought to focus its supportive role to the civil powers.
Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Donald Ramotar, earlier in the year placed the rank and file of the GDF on high alert in anticipation of today’s General and Regional Elections.
He made the proclamation while delivering the charge to the top brass of the GDF when they congregated at the Officers’ Complex at Base Camp Ayanganna for their Annual Conference last February.
At the time, President Ramotar expressed the “fervent hope” that the elections climate “is one of peace (and where) good sense will prevail, even as contesting political parties and their supporters, as is their democratic right, vigorously conduct their campaign.”
Speaking in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President warned that in such an election climate, “forces of reaction and fragmentation must not be allowed to fester in our society.”
Ranks of the Disciplined Services have already voted ahead of today’s date set aside for the general populace so that they can be inlying and ready, should the need arise.
Ramotar said early voting on the part of the Disciplined Services was meant to ensure that the ranks are able to stand guard on May 11, when the rest of the electorate take to the polls.
“Any attempt to create a feeling of insecurity and fear among our citizens or in any segment of our population, based on rumour, subjective gutter politics or worse, must be publicly frowned upon and action taken by the security forces to arrest any such tendency.”
This, he said, must be done through the application of the “full weight of the law and our Constitution,” against those culpable.