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“Today, more than 1,500 personnel from the United States and 21 partner nations have completed what will most likely be regarded as a landmark experience in their military careers. What we have seen in Guyana over the last two weeks is a reinforcement of 38 years of commitment towards strengthening transnational partnerships and coordination through combined capacity-building of our military personnel to build adequate defences against ever-evolving crises and security threats that transcend our borders.”

Prime Minister Phillips, who is also performing the functions of President, highlighted the support of the US Southern Command and expressed appreciation for its dedication and cooperation on security and defence matters.

“The Government of Guyana commends and extends gratitude to the continued sponsorship and stewardship of the US Southern Command in its assurance to work with the Caribbean Region to strengthen regional cooperation and stability while improving the efficacy of responses to security threats prevalent in the region.”

HUMAN RIGHTS

Turning his attention to human rights, the Prime Minister remarked that the additional focus and awareness incorporated into the exercise aligns with the government’s strategy for strengthening the country’s security and defence capacity.

“The Government of Guyana is committed to the overall well-being of its people, with a strong focus on creating safer communities for all. Therefore, the Tradewinds 2023 exercise aligns with our commitment to achieving these goals, particularly regarding training our security personnel and improving overall defence capabilities.”

The Senior Government Official explained that the inclusion of human rights principles is a promising indication that our security forces intend to be the forerunners of our safety and champions of the protection of everyone’s human rights.

“Our security forces must work hand-in-hand with civil society, human rights organisations, and independent oversight bodies to ensure that allegations of human rights violations are thoroughly investigated and addressed. They must uphold human rights principles, demonstrate authentic leadership, and contribute to creating a just and harmonious society.”

REGIONAL SECURITY AND PARTNERSHIPS

Prime Minister Phillips stated that the Caribbean Community has identified four critical areas of security interest in 2022: firearms trafficking, cyber security, human trafficking, and maritime security, and has committed to strengthening relationships among member states to address these issues holistically.

As a result, the mandate of Exercise Tradewinds fits into this goal and the efforts to pursue effective and efficient collaborative alternatives will continue.

Noting how the advent of the digital age has affected the security of borders, the Prime Minister pointed out that now more than ever, collaborative efforts between countries are necessary if they are to confront the increasingly sophisticated security issues effectively.

“In today’s world, particularly with the advent of technology, many threats no longer recognise borders, which therefore begs the need for collaborative efforts between nations to address security challenges that transcend boundaries, such as terrorism, organised crime, cyber threats, and trafficking of illicit goods.”

“Our interconnectedness, particularly within the CARICOM region, therefore, means that the safety of our people is intricately linked, so addressing these matters as a collective becomes paramount.”

The annual Tradewinds exercise, sponsored by US Southern Command, commenced on July 25th with the participation of more than 1,500 troops from 21 nations. This year’s event marked the third time it was held in Guyana. (Extracted and modified release from the Office of the Prime Minister) 

Operation Clear-up aims to resolve outstanding regularisation matters nationwide; and ensure that residents in areas that can be regularised receive their ownership documents.

The area at Blueberry Hill is occupied by some 153 families. In 2010 a survey was conducted in the area, however, regularisation was delayed as a result of issues related to ownership of the land and corrections being made to the plan, as more persons started to occupy the area. A new plan was therefore done to facilitate the regularisation of the community and pave the way for today’s exercise.

CEO Greaves stated that legal documents play a very important role in the lives of the residents since it will empower them and grant them peace of mind.

Similarly, Minister Susan Rodrigues stressed the importance of land ownership documents in the lives of residents.

The Minister stated, “we understand the importance of that and that is why the housing sector has always been a priority of our government because of the empowerment that homeownership and land ownership brings to people.”

Minister Rodrigues also said that the government would maintain the price of the land that was agreed upon years ago so that residents can close this chapter of their lives.

Minister Rodrigues said that squatting in Guyana has been an issue for decades. Due to there being no proper housing programme in the 1990s, she said there were about 200 squatting settlements identified when the PPP/C government first took office. Through several PPP/C administrations, the Minister further stated that 175 of these settlements have been regularised. However, in areas where regularisation is not possible or zero-tolerance zones, the Housing Ministry embarks on relocation.

(Ministry of Housing and Water release)

In 2002, with input from more than 30 democratic countries and human rights experts from academia, as well as international and non-government organizations (NGOs), the HRI contributed to the development of a Consensus Document on human rights that currently serves as a human rights model. Under the Human Rights Framework and through membership in the HRI, the GDF formalizes its intent to implement the Consensus Document with support from SOUTHCOM’s Human Rights Office.

Human Rights has always been a pillar of the Guyana Defence Force’s operational and administrative mandate and is reflected in its values and standards. The opportunity to sign on to the regional initiative demonstrates the GDF’s commitment to the principles and promotion of human rights.  The GDF continues to improve its awareness of and respect for human rights.

Through its Human Rights Office, SOUTHCOM has previously supported the efforts of 12 countries that committed to implementing human rights programs in their defense or public security institutions, including the Dominican Republic, which established the first Latin American military school dedicated to human rights education, as well as Colombia and Peru, which also established military schools dedicated to human rights education and training.   (US Embassy Release)