President Irfaan Ali yesterday said that the Government is working on promoting “defence diplomacy” as a key feature of Guyana’s foreign policy.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was addressing newly promoted ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), at State House yesterday.
A release from the Office of the President said that he called defence diplomacy, one of the “most critical links between our foreign policy, our defence mechanism and our development strategy”.
“We are now going to embark on having defence diplomacy as a key feature of our foreign policy and a key feature of our national architecture”, he was quoted as saying.
He said that another key strategy the Government is pursuing in its development agenda is to prepare members of the GDF for continued contribution to the development of the country.
It is the training and experience of the GDF that will be converted into an “additional knowledge set” to prepare the force to produce men and women to be a part of the country’s defence diplomacy, the President said.
“So, as you embark on this journey, know that we are going to call upon you to contribute in a more significant way”.
Ali also thanked the Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess for his “very strong commitment” over the last two years in transforming the GDF and integrating it into the country’s development plan.
This, the President said, has helped to bolster and improve the standing of the military in Guyana.
“There is greater respect. There is greater honour shown to military officers, because you’re delivering a lot more positive development and contributions in communities themselves, and this is not going unnoticed”, the President said.
He added: “There are many regional institutions that are asking me for officers by name, because of courses you would have attended and the way you conducted yourself and the way you presented yourself.”
The Head of State called on ranks not to take the training opportunities that the GDF, and by extension the Government, is providing, for granted.
“Stay true to your oath of office. Stay true to professionalism. Stay true to the rule of law. Stay true to democracy and trust me, once you stay true to those principles, nothing can ever block you and your future from being better”, he said.
A release from the GDF said that the most Senior Officer promoted, Substantive Captain (Coast Guard) Vernon Burnett expressed thanks to the President for granting approvals for the promotions, and the Chief of Staff, and other promotion board members for their support throughout their careers.
“The army has nurtured us and assured us opportunities for growth and development. We will remain committed to upholding the Constitution of Guyana and continue to work for the development of the Guyana Defence Force,” he pledged. He also implored his fellow newly promoted Officers to be exemplary in their service.
Substantive Colonel Lorraine Foster, Officer Commanding of the Training Corps, was the most senior female Officer promoted. Lieutenant Colonel Christine Bradford Porter, who Commands the National Cadet Corps; Force Doctor, Lieutenant Colonel Natoya Lewis-Frank; Reserve Officer Lieutenant Colonel Althea Stuart (Headteacher); Lieutenant Commander Shennel Europe (Civil/Military Officer), and Major Renea Peters (Military Intelligence Officer), are the other Senior female Officers promoted, the release disclosed.
The President, in exercise of his powers under Part III Section 16 of the Defence Act 15:01 of 1977, approved the promotions of 71 Officers on the eve of the country’s 53rd Anniversary of the Republic.
