ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada -- A BATCH of Guyanese soldiers arrived here yesterday morning to be part of the Caribbean military contingent assisting hurricane-ravaged Grenada with reconstruction and security. Under the command of Commander Floyd Levi, the GDFS Essequibo docked at one the cruise ship piers in St George’s before daybreak with 56 men, 34 crew members and 22 artisans, and other skilled army personnel. The flag-ship Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard vessel also ferried in a quantity of tools, construction supplies and other materials. At least 70 additional members of the Guyanese contingent are due to arrive aboard a commercial aircraft on Thursday. The Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Chinese-made Y-12 aircraft on Sunday shuttled in an eight member advance party headed by contingent commander Lt. Col Bruce Lovell. He delivered a letter-of-introduction and a proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, yesterday and met with Commissioner of Police Fitzroy Bedeau and top officials of the National Emergency Response Organization (NERO). The GDF officer said the Guyanese servicemen would begin reconstruction work by Monday but security deployment would have to await the signing of SOFA. Lt. Col Lovell said he would be in command of the Guyanese contingent, a reversal of plans to be part of the entire Caribbean Community (CARICOM) contingent under the single command of Trinidad and Tobago. “Certainly, we will be coordinating with the Trinidadian contingent to ensure that there is no duplication of efforts.” “In terms of command, a command structure as originally conceived under the CARICOM contingent - that no longer obtains at this time,” he said. This first batch of the contingent spent most of yesterday setting up camp at the Special Services Unit (SSU) base alongside contingents from several other CARICOM member-nations. A contingent of Venezuelan soldiers, based at the demolished national stadium, is also here assisting in the rebuilding of the island. SOURCE: GUYANACHRONICLE.COM