– assures him of Government’s support

PRIME MINISTER (PM), Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Tuesday afternoon, promised injured soldier, Sergeant Gordon Cornette, that the State would continue to take care of his medical treatment and welfare.

The PM visited the injured officer at his Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara home and was sympathetic to his predicament.
Sergeant Cornette suffered burns to his hands and face during an explosion, while on duty at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Coast Guard base in Ruimveldt, Georgetown, in February of this year.

The Prime Minister assured the soldier and his family that the Government has the welfare of all its service men and women at heart, and “whatever specialist help he needs to recover, he would get it”.

“GDF and the state of Guyana will look after him for the rest of his life… I spent 36 years in the GDF and I myself was responsible for the care of people who got injured and the families of people who got injured,” the Prime Minister said.

Anya Cornette, the sister of the soldier, expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister for sitting with the family.
“This was much appreciated, you taking time out of your busy schedule to visit and listen… it was in the press that the Army will visit and you showed up, so it will show that you kept your promise. I just want to encourage you to continue putting your best foot forward,” she said.

Similar sentiments were shared by father of the soldier, Gordon Cornette (Snr.).
Also present during the meeting with the family was GDF Chief of Staff, Brigadier, Godfrey Bess; Medical Officer, Guyana Defence Force, Major Nigel Langhorne; and other representatives of the Army. (DPI)