Fully-funded scholarships for soldiers, Police – President Ali
Lawmen in both the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will soon benefit from educational opportunities to further their studies, with Government’s commitment for investment in this field.
While attending the annual Police Christmas breakfast held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown, on Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that lawmen and women will be able to obtain their undergraduate and post-graduate degrees.
President Dr Irfaan Ali at the GDF luncheon
President Ali sat down to have breakfast with the lawmen and women that have pledged to serve and keep the people of Guyana safe, members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
In his remarks at the breakfast, the President told the Police attendees that his Government is going to work towards the initiative of providing them with the highest level of education that they can offer.
He said that every single Commander at a branch or divisional level must at least pursue a degree and told the ones that have already done so that they will be enrolled at the University of Guyana to attain their Master’s in defence studies, fully funded by the Government.
The Head of State said that it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure that members of the GPF are equipped with the strategic tools required to carry out the duties required of them. He said that education is the most important strategic tool that they can have.
“Of the 250 special awardees at the award ceremony, top 50 of those will also be given the same educational opportunity,” Ali said in his remarks, speaking of an award ceremony he attended days prior.
He stated that Guyana must not only have a highly talented Police Force, but highly trained Police with educational tools that is second to none in the region. He also said that those who are unwilling to cooperate in the fight to better the Police Force, which will in turn better Guyana as a whole, will be left behind.
“I’m not asking any of you, or anyone to be a politician or to love me or love the PPP or love the Government. I am asking you to love your country, love your job and love the people of this country. That’s all I’m asking you,” he charged the ranks.
Head of State Dr Irfaan Ali along with Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie; and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Godfrey Bess at the GPF’s annual Christmas breakfast
Additionally, the Head of State noted that his Government would continue to equip the Force with the necessary vehicles to execute their duties. He said that building on the Government’s supply of 50 new vehicles, 65 bikes and other assets to the Force, a supplementary provision has been set aside for 50 more vehicles. A commitment was also given to replace the engines on more than 20 vehicles, which are out of service, to get them back into working condition.
GDF
Just on Monday, he awarded scholarships to two Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks at Camp Everard Christmas Luncheon. Ali, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, addressed ranks of the Guyana Defence Force at Camp Everard, in Mabaruma.
“Not because you are posted out here, you are divorced from the world of education. We are going to make the necessary investments in this base and other bases that some people would say are way in the jungle. We are going to put the infrastructure in place to allow all of you to have a chance of improving your educational desires. And we want you to make use of it,” he told the army ranks.
In keeping with a tradition that he started in 2020, the President also requested that the ranks nominate a male and female among themselves who they think are deserving of scholarships. They were then awarded during the event.
Since taking office last year, President Ali has been pushing tertiary-level educational development among the ranks. As such, Government will make the necessary investments in a number of army bases around the country to improve their technological capabilities, with the aim of advancing the educational development of the ranks.
In keeping with the transformational agenda undertaken by Government, the Guyana Defence Force will also see greater investments in both infrastructure and human resources to provide top-tier efficiency. (G12)
