COMMANDER-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President David Granger on Tuesday presented 14 officers with the Instruments of Commission and commanded them to be exemplary leaders in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

“I encourage you to continue to study, to be disciplined, to be dignified and to be loyal to our country,” President Granger told the officers, while addressing them at the Ministry of the Presidency.
The graduates of the Standard Officer Course No. 48, two of whom are females, were presented with the Instruments of Commission, and as such, were inducted into the Officer Corps. This gesture is in keeping with the Defence Act of Guyana, the President pointed out, noting that 2016 marked 50 years since he was presented with his Instrument of Commission as a GDF Officer. “From 1966 to 2016 have been 50 very important years of life,” he posited.
“Your commissions, however, are not merely certificates of accomplishment; they are the lawful authority which you have to function as officers of the GDF,” the President said.
He also reminded the officers of the oath taken to bear true faith and allegiance to the State of Guyana, and the need to execute their duties without fear or favour. “These are heavy words, to operate without fear or favour, even when you come against a ferocious enemy, you should be fearless, or even if you have to deal with relatives in a community where you grow up, you cannot show them special favour.”
He warned that a time would come when they would be tested to act without fear or favour. “Your duties entail that you have an obligation to obey the constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, you have an obligation to comply with the Defence Act and you have an obligation to practice the values and standards of the Guyana Defence Force,” he added.
The 14 officers who were recipients of the Instruments of Commission are: Cleveroy Patrick, Jermine Nedd, Mark Bagot, Jermis Batson, Corenna Van Lewin, Althea Rodney, Dwight Bonus, Daniel Phillips, Jeremy Basdeo, Quason McAndrew, Rawl Lord, Joel Amsterdam, Garvon Douglas and Stephion Gordon.