…promises to immediately address the issueBy Zena HenryIn a bold move to address what appears to be a tarnishing blot in the face of military brotherhood, recently-appointed Chief of Staff Brigadier (COS) Mark Phillips has apologised to survivors of the Camp Groomes explosion, in 2000, for the hardships they faced due to injuries sustained and for the delay that has caused the men not to receive their financial benefits.Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark PhillipsHe has promised to immediately address the issue which for over 13 years now, has seen some of the survivors coping the best way they can because injuries have rendered them physically weakened.Brigadier Phillips told Kaieteur News yesterday that he is aware of the soldiers injured during the Camp Groomes explosion and understands that efforts are being made for them. He said that he also understands that the men would have had medical examinations and they should be having their pension and gratuity sorted out.The Army chief said he is also aware that the soldiers’ matter was placed before the Force’s Defence Board, and approval was given for their financial benefits. The COS stated that he, “will certainly look into the matter,” after learning that the soldiers have not received their pension, gratuity and not even the salaries due to them as “medically unfit” members of the army.“I must first apologise for them not receiving their salaries, pension and gratuity as yet, but certainly I will look at it immediately!” the Chief of Staff said emphatically.Brigadier Phillips will be the second COS to deal with the matter since four of the injured soldiers brought the matter to the fore. Samuel Archer, 35, Wendell Cort, 33, Calvin Lewis, 31 and Curtis Samuels had told Kaieteur News that following the 2000 explosion, it was not until 2012 they were able to relate their dilemma to a Chief of Staff; and that was after they stormed his office because they were being turned away and “given the royal runaround.”When the matter was brought up in early 2013, the GDF sent out a release saying that it was a “genuine mistake” that for some five months the ranks were denied their $35,000 salary as a result of them being removed from the army’s payroll. They stated further that, “the persons injured in the Camp Groomes explosion would remain on strength, with pay until they attain the age of retirement,China Jerseys Wholesale,” but a more recent decision they said was, “for the ranks to appear before a Medical Board and be discharged as ‘ceasing to fulfill medical standards’, so that they can begin to receive benefits without having to wait until they were at age 40, provided that the Defence Board agreed.”The injured soldiers have however related to this newspaper that in June of last year they were told that they would receive compensation before they are removed from the force’s payroll on December 31, 2013. The soldiers said they were assured in June, that before the thirty-first their package would be sorted out. However, the ranks say they have not even received a basic salary for the year. They claimed that it was not the first time their salaries were stopped and they had to endure “much runaround” to have it returned.The soldiers had pleaded with the army for worthy treatment, since their injuries were sustained while on duty. They say they have families to take care of, and responsibilities like ordinary citizens. While some of the injured ranks suffer with hearing problems and hallucinations, all have related that they are physically weakened by the toxic explosionsFour of the 11 survivors from the Camp Groomes incident.and chemical bombs.Calvin Lewis’s legs are still not healed; they are infested with worms and still ooze inflammation. He operates a horse cart for a living.The soldiers were asleep when the weapons bond exploded on December 18, 2000. They were part of a 14-man unit guarding the ammunition bond that housed hand grenades, various rifles, guns, and a suspected chemical weapon which the government had said was destroyed at the time. It was not ascertained whether a comprehensive report on the cause of the explosion was reported, but it took the army two years before they were equipped to start the cleanup process.
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