With more investments being made in the military, President Irfaan Ali has declared that the Government of Guyana remains committed to building a strong and diverse military.
“We seek to build a military that reflects the diversity, one that is inclusive and offers the opportunity to all of its members to contribute to our collective success”, Ali said.
Addressing the Commissioning Parade for new Officers on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Guyana Defence Force, the President said he understands the challenges being faced by many nations currently, and it is because of those challenges that the Government has chosen to invest heavily in the Guyana Defence Force.
“We are proud of our independence, our ability to charter our own course and to make our own decisions. This independence is not merely a matter of pride, but a fundamental principle that guides our actions. We are committed to maintaining our sovereignty, safeguarding our national interests and building a future where our nation thrives”, the President told the new Officers and others gathered at the ceremony.
The President urged the families of the new Officers of the Guyana Defence Force to continue to be supportive and to understand that their support will be crucial as the new officers take on a military career. He said his government will remain supportive of them.
To the newly Commissioned Officers, the President reminded them that they have inherited a legacy of courage and dedication, encouraging them to always maintain their integrity as it will serve them well in their service to the military and the country. He said integrity will be the cornerstone of their military service and will serve as the foundation on which all other values will be built.
“Your journey has just begun and you will face challenges, you will encounter obstacles and you will be tested. But I am confident that you will rise to the occasion, you are trained to rise to the occasion, you will demonstrate the same courage, dedication and professionalism that have been the hallmark of our Defence Force”, he said.
A total of 28 recruits completed the Standard Officers’ Course #55.
Of that number, there were six graduates from the Guyana Police Force, one from the Guyana Prison Service, one from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and two from the Belize Defence Force. The remaining officers were all recruits of the Guyana Defence Force.
24-year-old Joshua Paul of the Guyana Defence Force was adjudged the Best Graduating Student. He is from the community of Kuru Kuru on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. He documented that he applied to be accepted in the Standard Officers’ Course on two previous occasions before eventually being accepted in his third try.
The GDF named new officer Kevaun Garnett as the runner up in the course.
The Standard Officers Course was completed over two years. It was initially a six month programme that expanded to one year. But back in 2017, it was further expanded to two years to include more training and academic work for the new officers.
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