While the rest of the nation sleeps, our soldiers in the Cuyuni Region are awake. Eyes fixed on the horizon, fingers cold on their weapons, hearts heavy with duty. These are the sons and daughters of Guyana. They are patriots tasked with defending our territorial integrity in the face of growing threats, particularly Venezuela’s escalating aggression. Yet, despite the magnitude of their sacrifice, they are being treated with shocking neglect.
This truth rings out without apology- the men and women of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) are not being treated with the dignity, respect, and resources they deserve.
It is shameful that in a time of rising tension on our western frontier, when regional instability is no longer a distant threat but a present danger, our soldiers are deployed with the bare minimum. From inadequate logistical support to paltry salaries that barely feed a family, the GDF rank and file is being left to defend a nation that has failed to defend them.
These are not just uniformed bodies. These are human beings—mothers, fathers, siblings, children—who leave their families for days, weeks, even months, so we may go about our lives in peace. They stand watch while we sleep. They risk death so we may live secure. That sacrifice cannot and must not be minimised, ignored, or disrespected.
Yet what do they return to?
- Salaries that insult their sacrifice
- Living conditions unfit for those asked to give all
- Psychological burdens carried with little to no support
- Families left vulnerable without proper health and welfare protections
Worse still, the recent spate of tragedies involving GDF personnel has thrown into sharp relief the peril and neglect that surround these national heroes. From fatal accidents to poor deployment conditions, we are witnessing a slow-motion collapse of morale. And if this trend continues unchecked, Guyana risks not only a mass exodus from the Force, but the erosion of one of our most critical institutions—at the exact moment we need it most.
What is unfolding is unacceptable.
You cannot call upon our soldiers to risk their lives for this nation while treating them as expendable. Patriotism must be matched with protection. Loyalty must be met with leadership. And national service must come with national gratitude, not just in words, but in deeds.
This means:
- Immediate salary reviews and adjustments to reflect the true value of military service
- Upgrading of base infrastructure and field conditions in frontier areas like Cuyuni
- Comprehensive family support services for soldiers’ dependents
- Mandatory mental health and trauma care for those deployed in conflict zones
- Active and visible government engagement with the military community—not only in times of crisis, but always
Guyana cannot afford to lose the confidence and commitment of its soldiers. In times like these, when our sovereignty faces open challenges, we must rally behind those who defend our flag with their bodies, their courage, and their lives.
We urge President Irfaan Ali and the entire Cabinet: do not let budget lines and bureaucratic delays cost us the strength of our Defence Force. We are standing on a dangerous edge, and only our soldiers stand between us and the abyss. It is time to treat them accordingly.
Guyanese have a role to play in the country’s transformation. Let us not forget those who patrol the border under threat of gunfire, who sleep on makeshift cots, who endure hunger and hardship while we sit in comfort. Support them. Speak up for them. Demand justice for them.
Our soldiers are not asking for privilege. They are asking for what is fair. Let us give it to them before we ask again for their sacrifice and find no one left to answer the call.
