By Nakasia Logan
February 13, 2025
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) opened its Annual Officers’ Conference at Base Camp Ayanganna this morning.
The two-day conference, under the theme “Transforming the Force to better confront the nation’s present and future challenges by enhancing its Awareness, Adaptability, and Agility capabilities,” aims to explore advancements in defense strategy to ensure the GDF remains a capable force, ready to defend Guyana’s sovereignty and contribute to national development.
Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, reaffirmed the commitment of GDF personnel to serve with discipline, resilience, and loyalty, emphasizing the force’s readiness to protect the country amidst global challenges and the continued territorial claims from unstable neighbors.
In 2024, the GDF made significant advancements in training, infrastructure, and asset acquisition.
The maritime domain saw the arrival of the 115-feet near-coastal patrol vessel, GDSF Shahoud, and the ordering of an ocean patrol vessel worth €39.5 million, set to arrive in 2026.
Brigadier Khan also highlighted the ongoing investment in human capabilities, with over 6,000 ranks trained since 2020, including 1,200 trained locally and 200 overseas in advanced courses.
The conference brings together senior officers, policymakers, and key stakeholders to discuss the GDF’s evolving role in national defense and global security challenges.