USSOUTHCOM lauds Guyana for hosting Exercise Tradewinds

− participants expected to assist Guyana with its flood relief

Guyana was on Sunday lauded for hosting the Tradewinds joint military exercise which officially kicked off with a simple ceremony at Camp Ayangana and will see the participation of militaries from 14 countries around the world.
According to the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Director of Exercises and Coalition Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Kevin Bostick, it is commendable that Guyana agreed to host the exercise and so many persons were able to put their heads together to plan the initiative.
“We will always strive to make sure that we’re building partnerships, teaming with our partners and in this case, give a special thanks to Guyana for hosting Tradewinds 2021. It’s a big endeavour, so thanks for all the joint forces. Coast guard, navy, marines, air force, army, the defence forces from all the different countries,” Bostwick said.
On the other hand, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier General Godfrey Bess described the exercise as a multi-dimensional one. He lauded the participating countries for braving the COVID-19 pandemic to come out in their numbers, but reminded that COVID protocols will still be in place so that everyone remains safe.
“Tradewinds 2021 is a multi-dimensional exercise that involves troops from the Caribbean, North and South America and Europe. It is definitely good when partnering nations come together like this so we can be able to train and partner together,” he said.

According to Bess, it is also possible that the participating militaries will even help in flood relief efforts across Guyana in the way of logistics. Guyana’s flood situation was recently declared a national disaster by President Dr Irfaan Ali.
“That is possible in terms of logistics. I’m almost certain that we would have them incorporated in our logistics. Airlift, assisting us to get items into the flood-affected areas, for example. It would basically be the items we have at the CDC and over the period, have been accumulating,” Bess said.
Military representatives from 14 nations are currently in Guyana for the exercise which is essentially Caribbean-focused and designed to help participants better respond to natural disasters and land and maritime threats. Exercise Tradewinds is sponsored by USSOUTHCOM.
With the Caribbean region as its focus, Exercise Tradewinds is designed to help prepare participating nations to be able to better respond to natural disasters, as well as land and maritime threats.
In January, during the signing of an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement with Commander of the US Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller, Bess had explained that Guyana was in a region prone to natural hazards and man-made threats which have the potential to undermine security.
Aside from natural disasters, the GDF Head had explained that terrorism, trafficking in arms, narcotics and human trafficking undermine the rule of law and corrupt youths and institutions, resulting in threats to regional security and stability.
He had further highlighted that defence cooperation also contributed to the enhancement of professionalism and training of military officers, noting that the GDF would participate in the annual “Exercise Tradewinds”.
Earlier this year, the GDF Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard had commenced the first of a series of joint exercises as part of the operationalisation of the Shiprider Agreement ratified by the two countries in 2020.
This exercise took place off the coast of Guyana and focused mainly on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The activity was conducted in collaboration with the US Coast Guard Cutter Stone, which was at the time in the region for a multi-country tour.
In September, Blinken’s predecessor as Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had visited Guyana and signed a maritime patrol pact with officials in Guyana to guard against narcotics and other regional security threats.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had explained that the maritime pact would see joint patrols to interdict narcotics trafficking. The President had also noted that it would allow for the improvement of technical and human capabilities in monitoring Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).