Dear Editor,

A LETTER written by one Gordon Daniels and published on August 25, 2019 by the Guyana Chronicle under the caption “It was Jagdeo who damaged and demoralised the GDF”, stated, inter alia, “Mr Jagdeo ought not to forget that Gary Best and Mark Phillips colluded with him to have those four colonels removed from the (sic) Force”.

I consider this a vile and spurious attack on my character, since the statement is totally false. I was appointed Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force in September of 2007, after serving the Force for over 27 n years, and discharged my duties in accordance with the Defence Act without fair or favour, affection or ill will, for a period of six years.

I was the third Chief of Staff to be appointed by the then Commander in Chief. The appointment of a Chief of Staff is done by the Commander in Chief in consultation with the Defence Board. In the circumstances of the reputational harm already done, it is only fitting and professional for the Guyana Chronicle to retract the letter and offer an apology, since I believe that the action by the Chronicle represents an oversight on the part of those responsible for the editing.

Regards,
Gary A R Best Rear Admiral

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Guyana Chronicle regrets referencing Mr. Best’s name in the letter without verifying the facts. For that we sincerely apologise to him for any damage the letter might have caused.