Hours after a 23-year-old Lance Corporal of the Guyana Defence Force, who was shot while on duty near the Venezuelan border, complained to Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed about not receiving sufficient support from the GDF, he was taken into custody by the GDF and admitted to the Force’s Medical Center at Camp Ayanganna for “medical observation”.
On Friday during a live broadcast with the Opposition Leader, Lance Corporal Shamar Calder explained that he was on duty near the Venezuelan border when his unit came under gunfire from the Venezuelan side of the border. Calder received gunshot injuries and was rushed out of the area. He said he underwent surgery to remove a bullet from one of his legs, but has been left in pain and unable to return to active duty three months after the incident.
In his sit down with the Opposition Leader, Calder said while he has received many promises from the GDF since the incident, the Force has not been delivering on those promises.
He said he remembered being discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital and taken to the GDF Medical Center in Camp Ayanganna, where he said he was visited by the Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan. He said during that visit, Brigadier Khan told him that he does not want soldiers to believe that they can only get things, like a house, after being injured.
Calder said during the visit, the Chief of Defence Staff contacted the President by phone, and handed the phone to him. He said the President thanked him for his service before the phone connection encountered some problems. The visit by the Chief of Defence Staff ended shortly after, the young man recalled, adding that he was also presented with a bravery medal by Brigadier Khan during the visit.
He said the GDF requested he supply documents related to his application for a low cost house, and he did just that the very next day. He said he was told that his application would have been fast tracked, but whenever he inquired about the issue, he was told that its still being addressed.
Calder said outside of that issue, he has been enduring pain from the surgery that was done to remove a warhead from his upper thigh. He said he is unable to stand or walk for long periods, as he is in constant pain.
The young man, who is a father of three, also complained that since being home for the past three months, support from the GDF has been insufficient.
In a statement following the broadcast of the interview on Facebook, the Guyana Defence Force denied that welfare and other support was not being provided to the young soldier.
The GDF said the young man was under medical supervision and received specialist follow-up care through both the GPHC and the GDF Medical Corps after the incident.
In addition to his physical treatment, the GDF said the injured member continues to receive psychological support through its Medical Corps, adding that the administrative processes relating to the welfare of the injured member and his family are being addressed.
“The GDF remains committed to the care, welfare and recovery of its personnel, particularly those injured in the line of duty and will continue to provide the necessary support throughout the member’s recovery and rehabilitation,” the GDF said.
Since that statement, Lance Corporal Calder was visited at his home and taken into custody by the GDF. He was told that he was being admitted to the GDF Medical Center for “medical observation”.
Family members believe he may find himself facing disciplinary action over his decision to engage the Leader of the Opposition on his concerns.
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