Dear Editor in Chief,
TO: Minister of Public Works / Chief of Protocol / Head, National Events Task Force
Subject: Fort Island 60th Independence Event — After-Action Findings & Immediate Corrective Checklist
COMMENDATION
To the Government of Guyana, the Organizers, Citizens and Dignitaries who gathered for the Flag Raising Ceremony at MIDNIGHT, May 25th into the 60th Diamond Jubilee of Independence, May 26, 1966.
Your Presence, Devotion and Patriotism at that midnight moment HONORED SIX DECADES of NATIONHOOD . Standing together as the Golden Arrowhead rose to mark our 60th anniversary was a powerful act of Unity, Resilience, and National Pride.
Thank You to the Government and Organizers for convening the Ceremony, and to EVERY ATTENDEE for bearing WITNESS to this HISTORIC MILESTONE.
KEY FAILURES – May 26, 2026, Fort Island Event : A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT
No screening/accounting at stelling : No manifest, no headcount, no screening before boarding. Security risk to public + dignitaries.
Continuity breach: Entire Cabinet, minus President, transported on one vessel. NO Continuity of Government (COG) redundancy.
Diplomatic exposure: US Ambassador and other Representatives stranded in crowd, NO priority egress/escort.
Logistics collapse: Insufficient boats, no timed shuttles, citizens left waiting. Dry runs did not mirror real loads/tides.
NO public accountability: NO After Action Report (AAR) , NO published lessons, NO corrective steps announced.
Immediate Corrective Actions – Must be in place before NEXT STATE event
Area *Action *Owner *Deadline
Security & Access | Mandatory manifest + digital check-in at wharf. Headcount per vessel. Ban boarding without clearance. | GPF/SSU | 14 days
Continuity of Government | Cabinet/Ministers split across min. 3 vessels/helicopters. No single boat carries >30% of Cabinet. | Office of President + GDF | Next event
Diplomatic Protocol | Embassy liaison 72hrs prior. Priority boarding lane, secure holding area, dedicated escort for all accredited reps. | MoFA + Protocol | 7 days
Transport/Logistics | Full-load dry run with actual boats, tides, crowd. Standby vessels + emergency craft on site. Timed shuttle schedule published. | M o Presidency + Maritime Admin | 21 days
Risk/Lessons | Integrate past incidents into event risk assessment. Appoint Lessons-Learned Officer per event. | Ministry of Home Affairs | 14 days
Accountability | Publish 2-page After Action Report (AAR) within 72 hours: what failed, why, corrective steps. Assign tracking officer. | National Events Task Force | 72hrs post-event
MAJOR CONSTRAINTS to Address
Single wharf/geography: Fort Island has one access point. Recommend infrastructure audit + alternate embarkation plan.
NO lead agency: Establish a National Events Safety & Protocol Authority with authority to override ministries on security/transport.
Personnel gaps: Rotate trained GDF/GPF event officers only. End ad-hoc postings. Build a roster of certified event security/protocol staff.
NON-NEGOTIABLES for FUTURE Events
· NO Cabinet/Head of State travel without CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT (COG) plan.
· NO vessel departs without manifest.
· NO Foreign Ambassador, High Commissioner, or Representative movement without embassy-confirmed ESCORT plan.
· NO event proceeds without a complete, documented DRY RUNS/PRACTICE SESSIONS.
FLAG NOT RAISING — Fort Island MALFUNCTION
That is a PROTOCOL + ENGINEERING FAILURE, not just “BAD LUCK.” For a 60th/Diamond Jubilee, the flagpole/hoist is a single-point-of-failure.
Or AT WORK with FLAG , The “DUTCH BACCOO “ is a mythical, shape-shifting spirit in Guyanese and Surinamese folklore. Resembling a small man with large eyes, it is said to bring wealth or harm enemies, BUT it demands daily feedings of BANANAS and MILK .
WHAT went WRONG with FLAG and how to LOCK IT DOWN THE NEXT TIME
WHY do FLAGS FAIL at Major STATE EVENTS?
Mechanical: Jammed pulley, frayed halyard, cleat stuck, electric motor fault.
Weather: Sudden wind gusts wrap the flag around pole. Wet rope swells in cleat.
NO BACK-UP PLAN : Crew waits while troubleshooting instead of executing Plan B.
NO pre-event test under load: Dry runs done with crew only, not with actual flag weight + wind.
Personnel: Untrained flag detail. No Flag Officer with authority to call “hold/skip/switch.”
LOGISTICS to avoid A REPEAT of FLAG snafu:
· Redundancy on Hardware
· 2 identical flagpoles/hoists: Primary + standby 10m away. Both rigged, tested, covered.
· Manual + electric: IF electric, have manual halyard backup. If manual, have 2nd rope pre-run.
· Spare halyard, pulleys, cleats, carabiners on site in a sealed kit.
Pre-event CHECKS that must be signed off for FLAG Raising.
· T-72 hours: Full hoist test with actual flag, at same time of day, with wind/tide.
· T-2 4 hours: Inspect rope for fray, lubricate pulley, test cleat under load.
· T-2 hours: FINAL “dry hoist” without flag, then “wet hoist” with flag to 1/3 height and down.
· Sign-off sheet: Engineer + Protocol Officer + GDF Flag Officer must all sign before ceremony starts.
Weather + contingency Standard Operating Practice (SOP) for FLAG Raising.
Wind limit: If sustained >25 knots or gusts >35 knots, switch to “ground display” protocol.
Plan B script: If hoist jams, Flag Officer announces: “Due to wind, we will proceed with the unfurling ceremony” → crew unfurls flag on ground/stage while anthem plays. Never leave silence dead while techs climb.
Quick-release: Flag pre-clipped to a breakaway line so it can be cut free and hand-carried if pole fails.
PERSONNEL & COMMAND for FLAG Raising
Appoint a Flag Officer: One person, not a committee, with authority to abort/switch.
Trained flag detail: GDF ceremonial unit only. No last-minute volunteers.
Communications: Flag Officer on radio with MC, band, and security. One channel, no delays.
DIPLOMATIC OPTICS for FLAG RAISING
IF FLAG cannot rise, DO NOT Pretend. DO NOT PAUSE. DO NOT look UNPREPARED. An Immediate announcement + proceed with ALTERNATE honor. Leaving Ambassadors watching a STALLED FLAG ON POLE damages NATIONAL and GLOBAL IMAGE more than admitting a mechanical issue.
One-page CHECKLIST for next MAJOR event for FLAG RAISING
· 72 HOURS out: Full hoist test + sign-off
· 24 HOURS out: Inspect + spare kit on site.
· 2 HOURS out: Final dry/wet hoist
· At CEREMONY: Flag Officer on communications, Plan B script in MC’s hand
· Post-event: Log any fault in After Action Report (AAR), replace ALL wear parts before next use.
BOTTOM LINE : GUYANA GOLDEN ARROWHEAD FLAG MUST have a MECHANICAL BACKUP, a HUMAN BACKUP, and a NARRATIVE BACKUP… IF anyone FAILS, the OTHER TWO keeps the ceremony MOVING..
RECOMMENDATION: Approve this CHECKLIST and APPOINT the Task Force TO LEAD for The credibility of STATE CEREMONIES and SAFETY of Citizens/Dignitaries depend on it.
WITH HIGH RESPECT, DO Be Assured of My Highest Consideration
Yours truly
Professor Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally
Former SECOND Ambassador to KUWAIT 2016-2020
Former FIRST Alternate GOVERNOR, Islamic Development Bank, 2017-2020
Former DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, Board of Directors, GO-Invest 2016-2019
