Georgian Coast Guard Celebrates
Sixth Anniversary
Friday, July 16th, 2004 marked the sixth anniversary
of the establishment of the Georgian Coast Guard. It was a day of
celebration in Poti, home of the main Coast Guard base. Davit Gulia
and Badri Bitsadze, the respective heads of the Coast Guard and
Border Guard, were present, and spectators were treated to a parade
of the fleet and a general formation of the Coastguardsmen.
Headquartered in Poti, the Georgian Coast Guard is in the midst
of an ambitious hundred-day program of reform and modernization,
sponsored in part by the United States Embassy. Among the projects
already carried out are the construction of a new headquarters building,
upgrades of radar facilities, and English language training for
the Coastguardsmen.
Phase two of the program began with the delivery of five hundred
sets of new uniforms, courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer, this past Monday.
Previously, members of the Coast Guard wore several different types
of uniforms; according to Jon Trumble, head Customs advisor at the
U.S. Embassy, "You represent the Coast Guard of Georgia when
you wear this uniform. Behave well wearing it, and people will think
well of this Service; act rude and boisterous and civilians will
generalize that impression instead . . . . I am extremely pleased
with the great steps forward the Coast Guard has taken and the work
you do. Remember, every additional lari spent on the Coast Guard
brings Georgia no less than seven lari in the form of additional
customs duties, foreign investment as Georgia gets to be a more
respectable business environment, and increased tourist revenues
as this becomes a country where the rule of law is secure. This
is a compelling reason to provide well for the Coast Guard out of
Tbilisi's small but growing treasury."
Huge changes have taken place in the Georgian Coast Guard since
its founding, with a single base and a fleet of one boat, in 1998.
Diverse future projects are in the works, including the refitting
of several Sea Ark patrol boats the Coast Guard has acquired, and
further radar improvements. Along with the English classes, the
American advisors plan to train Coast Guard members in computer
skills in anticipation of the arrival of fifty desktop computers
at the end of the summer. "You should know that the base will
be the first to receive its computers, and the office in Tbilisi
will get theirs last," declared Trumble.
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