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Trinidad to
provide Guyana with security assistance - helicopter,
specialized weapons
Georgetown, GINA, February 20, 2008: The Government
of Guyana has accepted the Government of Trinidad and
Tobago’s (T&T) offer to assist Guyana in the pursuit of
criminal gangs which have been carrying out ruthless
killings and robberies.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee who made the
announcement today said following the offer by the Trinidad
Government, he held discussions with that country’s Minister
of National Security Martin Joseph on the level of
assistance that will be provided.
“As a consequence of these discussions it was agreed that
the Government of Trinidad & Tobago will provide the
Government of Guyana with specialized weapons and a
helicopter.”
“The Government of Guyana has been making every effort to
procure the said weapons from other sources but without
success. In the interim the specialized weapons and the
helicopter have been accepted to assist the Government of
Guyana in its crime fighting efforts.”
Minister Rohee said the Government of Guyana expresses its
deepest gratitude to the Government of Trinidad & Tobago for
its timely assistance.
President Bharrat Jagdeo recently announced that the Guyana
Defence Force (GDF) will receive $1B this year to purchase
helicopters to improve its air patrols which will aid in the
fight against transnational crime and serve as a deterrent
to the establishment of illegal airstrips. The President
said the funds will be facilitated in the 2008 National
Budget which will be presented on February 22 in the
National Assembly. The Head of State made it clear
that while government is committed to fighting crime and
using the necessary resources for the security forces,
Guyanese must understand that sacrifices will have to be
made to assist in this regard.
“This year we just put in the budget close to $1B to buy a
few helicopters with spotlight and a whole range of
equipment, but the money is limited too. … I can understand
sometimes the frustration but, people have to make
sacrifices if they want security. They cannot say to me they
want 50 roads and then spend money on helicopters too,” the
Head of State emphasized.
Government has explained that the National Budget will
reflect provisions for other areas which the United
Kingdom/Government of Guyana security action plan and
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Citizens’ Security
programmes would not cover.
