My Guyana National Service Experience!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Derryckgriffith

September 12-2009:

With PRIDE & Some REGRET I Remember!

The Guyana National Service Para-military institution was an off shoot of the former Guyana Youth Corps. The Youth Corps was intended (if my memory serves me correctly), to encourage young people to cultivate, develop, and settle in the hinterlands of Guyana, thereby allowing for the development and migration inward, from our coastal belt.

This institution had it's flaws from the inception. Politics, mis-management, and other internal troubles hindered it's development in any meaningful way. The National Service Institution was intended to do the same things, but with a military twist to it. Unemployed Youth from 16 to 21 were primarily targeted for recruitment, and encouraged via the media, and political press, to join. They were told of the socio-economic and educational benefits to be derived therefrom. And the opportunities that will be provided after serving three years as pioneers. It was to be voluntary at first, and if deemed necessary, legislation would be enacted to make it mandatory.

Then in November 1973, Mr. Burnham, as leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), at his party’s congress at Queen’s College, announced that National Service would include, as well, a voluntary young brigade embracing primary school children between the ages of 8 and 14. A second category, he announced would include a national Cadet Corps of trainees from 14 to 18 and a young workers corps for young people leaving primary school.

A further category would include a National Pioneer Corps for school leavers at secondary school level seeking employment and for the unemployed. He re-iterated that national service would be compulsory for prospective entrants to the University of Guyana, and that civil servants would have to go through a period of National Service in order to retain their jobs. "In time," he told the PNC Congress, "there would be no question of obtaining employment in Guyana without having first gone through National Service training."

This idea was not a very popular one with the masses. Opposing views here and there about the perceived ills that may result, when large numbers of young girls and boys, occupying the same spaces far away from their families, and proper supervision. But these concerns did not deter the political administration at the time, from going ahead with plans and implementation.

The GNS ( this abrev will be used hereafter), started some time in the 1970's, with three major locations. Kimbia, Papaya & Tumatumari. These were located in the hinterlands. The Kimbia location dealt primarily with basic para-military training for the pioneers (as these youths were called), cotton planting and harvesting. Black eye peas, and other cash crops, were grown to feed the pioneers and staff on that location, and some sent to other locations as well.

Norman McLean the Director General of GNS was a person with a mega ego. Whenever he was around, he made sure that his presence was felt. He always spoke as though he was giving instructions on a 'Drill Square In fact, he barked or shouted to all those under his rank. No one was spared from his arrogance.

Yes, that was Norman McLean for you!

Personally, I never liked him. He behaved as though he was a 'prima donna,' very abrasive, and treated his subordinates with impunity! And I guess he may have had reason to believe that, because he was taken from The Guyana Police Force, as an Asst.. Commissioner, and Senior Superintendent Of Police, and promoted above move eligible men to the rank of GNS Director General. A position that was equal to the Commissioner Of Police, and Commander Of The Guyana Defense Force! He was indeed a favorite of the late President L.F.S. Burhnam.

Papaya was the location that dealt primarily with military training skills, political education, orientation, etc. Tumatumari as well did some of the above and much more. I cannot say precisely, what was obtained at Tumatumari, because I only did a short stint for three months at Kimbia, as mandatory orientation. At the completion, I was sent to The GNS-Supply Store in Georgetown, to continue serving after leaving Kimbia.

I was involved in the building of The GNS Sports Complex. As a matter of fact, most Georgetown based personnel were expected to do some work there when ordered to do so. I was also ordered to 'cut sugar cane' on the Sugar estates on the East Coast of Demerara, when the cane cutters were on strike. The political leadership, under the late Forbes Burhnam ensured, that we did the cutting of the sugar cane, which was ripe and ready for cutting. Disregarding the official strike by workers there!

Training to use firearms was mandatory on all GNS locations. I did not have this privilege though. I guess because I was a staff member on orientation at Kimbia. Several pioneer veterans for different reasons were killed, either by careless use of the weapons, accidents, or just indiscipline. I was also ordered to go on 'Funeral detail' several times. I went with pride during these funerals, because I knew of the hardships, difficulties, and even environmental dangers, which most of these youths had to endure. I eventually left the GNS in 1975, after some re-structuring was being done.

My view was, that they were experiencing some Managerial re-shuffling, and Top-management overhauling. I took this opportunity to get out as fast as I could, after serving two & one half years. But I shall always remember my sojourn there, and the hardships, and military discipline, which we were subjected to, and the lofty ideals that was originally conceived.

It was a pity the implementation went so badly!

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RELATED INFORMATION:

Director General & Asst.. Commissioner Of Police:
Norman Mc Lean:


Asst.. Director General-Administration:
Charwin Burhnam:

Capt. Igris Burhnam.
GNS Supply Store Co-ordinator:

LOCATIONS:

1.Kimbia:- The Agricultural Camp, eg Cotton Gin:
2.Tumatumari:- The military training camp:
3.Papaya:- Military & other matters:
4.New River:- Border patrol/security, etc:

GNS River Vessel:- 'The Jaimito,'

ACHIEVEMENTS:
* GNS Sports Complex was built primarily by servicemen/women's labor:

* Sugar Cane detail/cutters on the sugar estates, during the months of strike action by cane cutters.

* Planted and harvested black-eye peas & cotton for local consumption & export trade at Kimbia.

* The Great March by the pioneer youths, led by Norman Mc Lean-Director General.

Derryck S. Griffith.
Educator-Advocate & Blogger.
Manhattan. New York City.
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To Be Continued~