Outgoing Commander of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard, Godfrey George, on Friday passed on the torch of command after serving for more than 33 years to new Commander, Gary Beaton.
A Parade March On, the passing of the Colour Party, the Parade March Off, and a reception marked the event on Friday at the Coast Guard Base at Ramp Road, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
The outgoing commander, Godfrey George, said that he commenced command of his unit in 1999, and recalled the design of the new Coast Guard Base in Ruimveldt by a great thinker, the late Commander Harry Hinds.
Commander George disclosed that the Coast Guard has tremendous potential and the new commanding officer must employ the required measures to propel the unit to the next level, since the foundation inherited is a solid one.
He asked that officers upgrade their performance and those who feel that they cannot do so must do the honourable thing and remove themselves from the Coast Guard.
In his remarks, Commander George said he had contemplating leaving since 2006, and had sought to identify a successor; but those he could have tapped left the unit leading to an abandonment of the preparation process. He added that despite this, the development of the unit will continue with Commander Beaton who was no stranger to the Coast Guard.
The new commander, Gary Beaton, spoke of himself as a straightforward and clear-spoken individual, “and some of the values I hold close to my heart are integrity, honesty, courage, fair-play, and team spirit. “I am big on results; and as a result; I set extremely high standards for myself as well as those whom I work with, and I believe one can have all the best intentions in the world, but unless they are executed, they are for naught.”
He added that personal development is very important and persons should seek this, since everyone should be empowered in their position to excel.
Those at the ceremony included Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best, other senior command staff, retired officers, and family members.
Speaking to the media afterwards, George said the first thing he plans to do is spend some time with his family which resides overseas before turning to anything else.
On advice for his successor to combat the problem of piracy, George said he had been talking to Beaton and thinks he needs to establish very close relations with the Fisheries Department and other agencies in order to tackle the issue.
“The piracy situation is information and intelligence driven…and I think even the fishers themselves recognise the need to collaborate with us and provide us with all the necessary information that will help us deal with the situation,” George said.
George said the fisherfolk could provide vital information and have been doing that recently.
His biggest accomplishment, George said, was the recapitalisation of the Coastguard, which he could not have done alone. This included the laying out of the Coastguard base, the acquisition of the flagship GDFS Essequibo, and the coastal vessels.
Meanwhile, he said his greatest disappointment occurred when several ratings went “rogue” and became involved in crime. His comment was a reference to last year’s multimillion-dollar robbery and killing of Bartician Dweive Kant Ramdass, with which three Coastguard ranks were charged.