Thirty-one officers were on Wednesday commissioned into service after receiving their badges of rank from President and Commander-in-Chief, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, during a parade at Base Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands.
The graduates of the Standard Officer Course 56 (SOC 56) completed two years of intensive training focused on discipline, leadership, and transformation from civilians into military officers. Of the newly commissioned group, six will serve with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), four with the Belize Defence Force (BDF), and 21 with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
During the ceremony, President Ali presented the Sword of Honour to Cadet Officer Roger Westmoreland of the GPF for exemplary performance throughout the course, a release said.
Other awards were presented to Second Lieutenant Hosea Harmon of the GDF, recipient of the Chief of Defence Staff Prize; Second Lieutenant Cladio Bolon of the BDF, who received both the Best International Student and Commandant, Guyana National Reserve Prizes; Cadet Officer Lloyd Calder of the GPF, who received the Colonel Administration and Quartering Prize; Second Lieutenant Wonetta Semple of the GDF, who earned the Inspector General Prize; and Second Lieutenant Paul Thompson of the GDF, who received the Commanding Officer, 1st Infantry Battalion Prize.
In his address, Commander-in-Chief President Ali urged the officers to carry forward the traditions of the Force with integrity and courage. “Today you join a lineage,” the President affirmed. “You inherit the legacy of those who came before you — Officers who have guarded our sovereignty, defended our borders, supported our communities, and upheld our Constitution. This legacy is now yours to uphold, extend, and enrich.”
Building on that message, the President said the officers’ leadership will be tested in the service of a changing nation. “Guyana today stands at a moment of immense transformation,” he said. “Our progress must be protected not by aggression, but through vigilance, integrity, and unity of purpose. When we invest in our Defence Force, we invest in peace, stability, and the prosperity of our people.”
Among those attending the ceremony were Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, MSS; Commissioner of Police Mr. Clifton Hicken; Director of Prisons (ag) Mr. Nicklon Elliot; Fire Chief (ag) Mr. Gregory Wickham; members of the Diplomatic Corps; Ministers of Government; former Chiefs of Staff; Officers and Ranks of the GDF; family members of the graduates; and other invited guests. The Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, joined President Ali and senior officers in congratulating the newly commissioned officers and extending best wishes as they begin their careers in service and leadership.
