Joint Services members honoured for exemplary service during elections

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday conferred Joint Services medals to personnel who performed exceptionally in disaster relief, humanitarian operations, and during this year’s elections, Operation Plexus 2025-01.

Operation Plexus After Action Review (ARR) is a standard exercise conducted ahead of elections.

Among those honoured were Second Lieutenant Rolex Bob, Sergeant Rolex Bankroft, Corporal Rondel Hassanah, and Assistant Superintendent of Prisons Patrick Crawford.

Delivering brief remarks, President Ali congratulated members of the Joint Services for safeguarding peace, order, and stability across the regions, describing the event as a modest expression of appreciation.

“When citizens can exercise their rights to vote freely without fear or intimidation, a nation demonstrates a depth of its democratic maturity. The peaceful and orderly conduct of our most recent elections was not an accident of circumstance, it was a direct result of planning, vigilance, discipline and the efforts of the joint services, and the Guyana Elections Commission,” he said.

The President emphasised that domestic peace forms the foundation of national defence, noting it is imperative that the world sees Guyana as united and capable of conducting its affairs in order.

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan said the ARR aims to consolidate and strengthen tactics within the Disciplined Forces and identify areas for improvement.

“Also to identify innovative ways in which we can enhance those operations,” he noted.

Khan described the elections as among the best conducted in his 33 years of service.

“In terms of creating the security environment for national and regional elections, and I applaud the service and professionalism of our officers and ranks across the Joint Services,” he noted.

He also referenced a shooting incident on Election Day at Guyana’s border along the Puruni River, where Disciplined Forces were escorting GECOM officials.

“I want to point out that this particular attack cannot be measured in the previous attack as just a threat to our territorial integrity and our sovereignty, this was an attack to our democracy,” he said.

Khan praised the vigilance of the ranks and coast guards involved, noting they effectively executed drills to prevent serious disruptions or injuries.

“I have no doubt that in future such joint operations, we will continue to operate with efficiency,” he noted