Executing a mandate set out by President David Granger, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) has embarked on expanding training in the Guyana People’s Militia(GPM).

Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford has even taken the opportunity to invite councillors of both the RDC and the Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) to “lead by example” and join the reserve programme. The chairman’s request came during a visit to Bartica by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, on Friday last.

“That is critical, that is important. God forbid if our frontline forces would have to be posted along the border to offer us protection, then we will need protection at home. That is the importance of the people’s militia, to be the home guard,” Bradford told the councillors last Friday during a joint consultation of the Local Democratic Organs (LDO) in Bartica.

The Regional Chairman said the People’s Militia can assist in protection on the ground especially when the country’s security forces are away or are not at full capacity at any one time.

Back in August 2017, President Granger had said that every capital town and Administrative Region across Guyana will have a unit of the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM), which will allow young people to benefit from skills training, to become equipped to provide support in the event of natural disasters, and to be in a state of readiness as part of Government’s total National Defence Policy.

The president said that the training offers tremendous benefits to soldiers and civilians, particularly young people; keeping them physically fit and giving them valuable life skills that they will be able to put into practice in an operational setting.

“In becoming an army of the people, in becoming a national army, in becoming part of this process of total national defence, I just want to emphasise the importance of the environment… We believe in the strategy of total national defence, that is to say, that we bring together all of the elements that our country could mobilise to protect our environment and our territoriality,” President Granger had said at a training camp at Makouria in the Essequibo River.

The president had explained that in addition to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) also has a role in ensuring that the civil power is supported.

Source:DPI