The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Tuesday presented its 2012/ 2013 Chief-of-Staff Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) Awards, to four deserving young women.
Receiving the awards were Maya Phillips, daughter of Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips; Roopa Devi Seenarine, daughter of the late Lieutenant Commander Coast Guard, Latchman Seenarine; Belinda Frelicia Bess, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey Bess; and Crystal Crawford, daughter of GDF civilian employee, Michelle Crawford.
Each was awarded Gy$ 100,000 for gaining at least five grade ones, with an additional Gy$ 25,000 being awarded for every additional grade one earned.
Seenarine gained 10 grade ones. Phillips and Bess scored seven a piece, while Crawford earned five grade ones.
Congratulating and toasting the awardees, Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Phillips urged the young ladies to press on to higher heights. “We are happy to present you with these awards and, although the force does not offer a reward at the tertiary level, we wish you to press forward. We believe that it is fitting that the children of our servicemen and women benefit from their parents service to the force and the nation,” he said, adding: “We look forward to your continued excellence and wish you well in your chosen fields of study. You are to become professionals and serve Guyana. Continue achieving and do your best; the sky is the limit.”
Seenarine, who aspires to a career in either business or accountancy, thanked the chief-of-staff and the GDF for appreciating and acknowledging the achievements of herself and fellow awardees.
She aims to soon be employed and simultaneously pursue private management and accounting studies.
Phillips and Crawford are already students at the University of Guyana pursuing a bachelor’s of science degree in medical technology and associate degree in physics programmes respectively.
Both are aspiring doctors.
Meanwhile, Bess, an aspiring auditor, is pursuing the foundation in accountancy programme at the Accountancy Training Centre.
The GDF Chief-of-Staff’s CSEC Awards are presented annually, to the children of serving officers and ranks, and civilian employees of the force. To be eligible, one must have gained a minimum of five grade ones at CSEC.
