CHIEF of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West and Inspector-General, Colonel Nazrul Hussain on Friday morning decorated newly- promoted officers with their new badges of rank at a simple but significant Badging Ceremony at the Officers Mess at Base camp Ayanganna.

Substantive Major Michael Shahoud heads the list of the newly-promoted officers, having risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col).

The other new Lieutenant Colonels are Selwyn Austin, Kester Craig and Sheldon Howell. Lt Col Austin was not available for Friday’s activity as he is currently on assignment overseas.
Substantive Captains Dominic Shepherd, Cranston France, Kevin Langevine, John Mohanlall, and Raymond Archer, and Reserve Officer, Captain Althea Stuart were promoted to the rank of Substantive Major.

Brigadier West congratulated the officers on the attainment of their new level of command, and urged that they adjust their thinking accordingly, as they support the Senior Command in ensuring a Force that is effectively transformed for “Total National Defence”.

Lt Col Shahoud expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in him and his colleagues by the Chief of Staff and the Commander in Chief.

Substantive Major Michael Shahoud was admitted to the local Bar in 2014, after his successful petition was presented before Justice Brassington Reynolds by Attorney-at-Law Andrew Pollard, who noted the academic and professional achievements of the young lawyer.

In accepting the petition, Justice Reynolds stated that he was well aware of the character of the attorney, and could personally concur with statements contained in the Petition.
He commended the young attorney on his achievements, and urged him to maintain a high degree of professional discipline and to avoid the ‘short cuts’, which inevitably destroy the moral fabric.

Major Shahoud gained his formal education at the St Theresa’s Primary School in New Amsterdam, and the St Margaret’s Primary and North Georgetown Secondary Schools in Georgetown. Upon the completion of his secondary education, Shahoud enlisted in the Guyana Defence Force, where he benefited from training on several courses, both locally and overseas.

He then proceeded to read for a pre-law programme at the University of Guyana in 2008, and later received a military scholarship to pursue the Bachelor of Law Degree, and the Legal Education Certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School.

He was also awarded the Ann Blue Award for the most outstanding second-year student at the University of Guyana.