COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF of the Armed Forces, President Donald Ramotar, yesterday, officially conferred the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff appointment on Brigadier Mark Anthony Phillips.

The new Army Head received the honour in the Credentials Room at Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, in Georgetown.
Before the Head of State, other Government and Army functionaries, Phillips vowed to, faithfully, execute his duties without fear or favour and pledged to honour, uphold and preserve Guyana’s Constitution.
Following the ceremony, Phillips used the occasion to appeal for families to encourage young people to join the GDF and serve, not necessarily for 30 years like him, but at least three years.
“It’s a wonderful thing to do,” he stated.
President Ramotar said he was looking forward to working with Phillips in order to promote the best interest of Guyana.
Mr. Ramotar observed that, over the years, the role of the military has changed and expanded in many ways.
He noted that the GDF plays a central role in the security of the country, not just at the borders, but also in coming to the assistance of the civil forces.
“So we look forward to the GDF growing from strength to strength under your leadership,” he told Phillips.
The President also thanked former Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Gary Best for the services he rendered over the years and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Best informed the media that the biggest thing to which he is looking forward is giving back to Guyana.

Any capacity
He acknowledged having benefitted in many ways during his tenure, with taxpayers dollars being spent on him. “And I really want to give back to my country, so I am prepared to serve in any capacity that benefits Guyana,” Best offered.
Phillips successfully completed the 50th Advanced Course in Hemispheric Defence and Security at the Inter-American Defence College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. during the academic year 2010-2011.
The college, an international educational institution operating under the aegis of the Organisation of American States (OAS), provides a multi-disciplinary, graduate-level course of study for senior military and civilian officers.
It is a rigorous one-year course that aids in the comprehensive understanding of governmental systems, the current international environment, the Inter-American system and security issues affecting the Western Hemisphere and the world.
Phillips, who hails from Linden, attended Christianburg Primary School and the Wismar/Christianburg Secondary (Multilateral School), prior to joining the GDF in December 1980.
In 1981, he graduated from the Royal Military Academy at, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom and since  served the GDF in several junior and senior level capacities over the past three decades.