Today marks a historic milestone as Guyana officially opens the week-long Regional CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) Training 2025, hosted for the first time on home soil.
The opening ceremony was held earlier today at the Civil Defence Commission Emergency Operation Centre located at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri. The training exercise brings together officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) alongside regional, international, and local partners to strengthen disaster response, humanitarian coordination, and operational readiness.
Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, delivered the feature address, emphasizing the central role of uniformed services in humanitarian work. “Military and paramilitary personnel have one purpose, and that is to serve the people,” he stated. He underscored the increasing complexity of global threats, exacerbated by climate change, and highlighted the urgent need for coordinated and rapid responses.
“We are all connected in different parts of the world,” he noted, “and everyone has a role to play in the global fight against disaster and displacement.”
Reflecting on the GDF’s recent deployment during Operation Beryl, Brigadier Khan recalled the devastation he witnessed firsthand in St. Vincent, as well as the hope restored through regional collaboration. That experience, he said, reaffirms the importance of training exercises like CDRU 2025 in sharpening readiness and deepening resolve.
“The training provides you with the platform to become more aware,” he told participants. “Having that awareness allows you to adapt, and awareness coupled with adaptability allows you to respond with agility.” He concluded confidently, stating, “The Guyana Defence Force is prepared, in a better position to mobilize, and ready to support.”
Also in attendance at today’s opening ceremony were Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel (Ret’d) Nazrul Hussein, and Deputy Director, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Mark Thomas. Representatives from the Regional Security System (RSS), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the World Food Programme, and officers and ranks of the Joint Services were also present.
Throughout the week, participants will engage in a series of simulated emergency scenarios, including search and rescue operations, medical support, communication drills, and damage assessments. These exercises are designed to enhance regional response mechanisms and foster greater interoperability among partner agencies.
The training will culminate on July 19 with a scenario-based field exercise, testing the agility, coordination, and resilience of participating units. Participants are expected to live in tents and operate in demanding conditions, replicating the realities of real-life deployments.
As the exercise unfolds, CDRU 2025 serves as another example of the GDF’s commitment to preparing its soldiers to serve with readiness, compassion, and resolve, both at home and across the Caribbean.
