Second Lieutenant Texine Daw of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) made history yesterday when she became the first woman to finish in the runner-up position of the Standard Officers Course. Cadet Officer John Barker of the Guyana Police Force was named the best student of the course. A total of 42 Standard Officers Courses have been conducted and in excess of 400 officers have been commissioned since the training first commenced.

President Bharrat Jagdeo decorated the ensigns with their badges at the commissioning ceremony yesterday and he called on them to be cognizant of the challenges facing the country. He said government has had sustained confidence in the officer corps of the GDF and the law enforcement agencies, noting that it continues to invest in the disciplined forces.

Speaking to the newly commissioned officers, the President said there would be opportunities for them to acquire other skills and he expressed hope that such opportunities would be constructively utilized. He said too that the military will be expected to defend not just the maritime and territorial borders of the country, but also natural resources and eco-services as Guyana develops and markets its eco-services. The Commander-in-Chief said also that the country turns to the GDF and the law enforcement agencies to sustain and protect its gains in addition to providing a secure environment. “At all times I call on you to examine yourselves, to review your actions and thoughts so as to meet the expectations of the Guyanese people,” Jagdeo added.

Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best, in a message to the newly commissioned officers, said they are graduating at a time when greater vigilance is required on the country’s borders. He stated that non-traditional threats in the form of transborder criminal activity are becoming prevalent.

The SOC 42 best student Barker, 23, referred to the course as physically and mentally challenging, but beneficial. He called it a “million-dollar experience” saying he would not trade it for anything. Barker received the Sword of Honour yesterday in addition to the Brazilian and Venezuelan Armed Forces prizes.

The 21-year-old Daw was quoted as saying that the morals and values which she gained from the course will stay with her forever. “Despite the fact that the course was physically and mentally demanding, it taught me skills that can be applied in everyday life,” Daw said.