Government Project Engineer, Brigadier Gary Beaton MSM, on Friday retired from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) after over 34 years of service.
Brigadier Beaton was honoured during his retirement parade, which was held at the Base Camp Ayanganna in Georgetown, where he thanked the force for shaping and moulding him into the person that he is today. In attendance at the Parade were the Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Chief of Staff Godfrey Bess, and Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, among others.
During the ceremony, Beaton recalled that he joined the force in 1985 as he was seeking an opportunity for development for himself and his family. Upon being enlisted in the force, he noted that the relationship could be likened to that of a parent and child as the GDF began to shape and mould him in many different ways.
“I still remember the firm grip in shaping me to lead and progress in my career from childhood to adolescence. Being the parent, as the force was, during my development adolescent stage I was coerced into the field of engineering,” he said, before adding that when he went into that field he was then selected to attend the University of Guyana to study engineering and had to return with a grade point average of no less than 3.0.
Though the task of finding volunteers to read for a degree in engineering at that time was arduous on the force, he recalled that he accepted the task and began his journey. Recounting his years of service he noted that as time went by he went from adolescence to adulthood and it was then he was tested the most.
“It was here that my Guyana Defence Force parents tested me the most. I was tested with command, the most memorable of which were Commanding Officer Four, Engineer’s Battalion, Commanding Officer Coastguard, and Commandant Guyana People’s Militia,” he recalled.
After officially becoming an engineer he related that he was tasked with the completion of numerous projects which included the upgrading of the playfield where the official parade was to be kept, the development of potable water supply at the force’s Agriculture Corps, and the development of a reliable water supply at Base Camp Stephenson.
The most challenging task, he recounted, was constructing concrete barracks at Eteringbang. “My relentless parents recognised my ability to complete challenging tasks and decided to reward me with even more challenges,” he said. Though given challenges, he noted that the force still afforded him the opportunity to pursue his Master’s Degree in Engineering at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Subsequent to this, he was then entrusted with command of the Coastguard and later the Guyana People’s Militia where a number of projects were undertaken.
It was noted that Beaton was instrumental in returning the Coastguard’s flagship GDFS Essequibo to active duty, along with the development of the Guyana National Cadet Corps. The Brigadier also headed the GDF’s academic board prior to his retirement.
Brigadier Beaton then thanked the leadership of the force for the many experiences over his 30 plus years of service. He also expressed gratitude to President Irfaan Ali, whom he noted had recognised his dedication and professionalism to the force and the country and as a result had promoted him to the rank of Brigadier just months before his retirement.
