President David Granger has pledged to work through the Guyana Defence Board, which he chairs — and with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Guyana Veterans’ Legion (GVL) and civil society — to ensure that recommendations emanating from the Commission of Inquiry that was launched to investigate the living conditions of veterans are effectively reviewed and implemented.
The Head of State made these remarks on Sunday at a Remembrance Day ceremony hosted by the GVL at Coghlan House on Carifesta Avenue, where as
President David Granger laying a wreath at the Cenotaph War Memorial on Main and Church Streets
patron of the Legion he handed over a cheque worth $1million.
“Today we look to the future, and we are all concerned about the fate of young persons who joined the defence and security forces to serve their country. The plight of veterans has not eluded the Government of Guyana. When I was in Opposition I promised, and when I took office fulfilled, what I called an obligation to investigate the conditions under which our veterans live and work; and this has been done,” the Head of State said.
Speaking of the contributions and bravery of Caribbean nationals who served in the Second World War, President Granger said that not only did some make the ultimate sacrifice, but many of those who returned were highly qualified and had inculcated a strong spirit of nationalism and pride. So much so that many of them
Members of the diplomatic corps in Guyana also participated in the traditional wreath-laying ceremony
took on leadership roles in their respective countries.
Among the Caribbean volunteers and recruits that returned, one became Prime Minister of Jamaica and another became the Prime Minister of Barbados. Guyanese Royal Air Force recruit Cecil Henry Ethelwood Miller became Chief Justice of Kenya; while Victor Crane, another recruit, became Chancellor of the Judiciary in Guyana.
President of the Guyana Veterans Legion (GVL), Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) George Gomes, said it is the responsibility of all to ensure that future generations
Some members of the security forces during the march past on Main Street on Sunday morning
are taught of the significance of observances like Remembrance Day, and of the sacrifices made by those who had fought in World Wars I and II.
According to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, Gomes informed that there is a total of 16 surviving members who served in the British Guiana Battalion of the South Caribbean Forces, all of whom are over 90 years old.
He also noted that the GVL is a united front for all veterans, including those from the British Guiana Volunteer Force and the GDF. The GVL has compiled a list with a total of 85 veterans, some of whom he described as “total shut-ins”, while others have serious ailments and disabilities.
“We continue to be thankful to the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League and the Royal Canadian Legion for the annual grants for our World War II veterans and the surviving widows (of veterans). We, however, need much more assistance…,” he said.
The GVL also receives an annual donation from the President. British High Commissioner Mr. Greg Quinn has said Remembrance Day observances do not
The War Memorial located at the junction of Main and Church streets
honour war or death, but rather commemorate those who have given their lives in service of their respective countries. “Many of us here have lost friends, colleagues and family members in service, and it is important that we honour their memories. They have not died in vain,” Quinn said.
High Commissioner Quinn also informed the gathering that a long-overdue war memorial has been erected in Brixton, London to honour the sacrifices of servicemen from Africa and the Caribbean, who served alongside British and Commonwealth forces in the First and Second World Wars.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Canadian High Commissioner Ms Lilian Chatterjee, who said the fact that ordinary men agreed to fight in foreign lands for foreign lands speaks to their bravery.
According to the Ministry of the Presidency, several individuals and organisations have on Sunday pledged generous financial support for the GVL.
Prior to the GVL’s Remembrance Day ceremony, President Granger attended the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph War Memorial on Main and Church Streets, Georgetown. Several Government officials and members of the diplomatic corps also took part in that activity.
In his Remembrance Day message, the President said the world is forever indebted to those who sacrificed their lives in the cause of peace and freedom.
“We remember the Guyanese men and women who struggled for national Independence and who have given their lives in the service of our nation. We thank those Guyanese who continue to defend our territory and our patrimony. We are encouraged by their example to strengthen our resolve to preserve the Caribbean as a zone of peace and safety, now and for generations to come. We rededicate ourselves to the quest for peace for the Nation and for the happiness of our people,” he said.
Remembrance Day is an international memorial day observed within the British Commonwealth since the end of World War I to remember members of the armed forces who died in the two World Wars. More recently, it has been expanded to include those who have died in conflicts after the two World Wars.
