FROM WEST TO BESS: New GDF boss ready to support police force if called upon

L-R Outgoing Chief of Staff Patrick West and Incoming Chief of Staff Godfrey Bess

Fifty-One-year-old Guyana Defence Force Colonel Godfrey Bess will be spearheading the entire operations of the Guyana Defence force effective tomorrow Wednesday, July 01, 2020, as the acting Chief of Staff.

His new responsibilities come as substantive Chief of Staff Patrick West was granted approval to proceed on accumulative leave which would lead him into his retirement. West’s approval was granted by Commander in Chief of the Armed Force president David Granger.

The appointment of Bess comes even as Guyana awaits a declaration of the results from March 02, 2020, General and Regional Elections which is currently engaging the attention of the judicial system.

In a telephone interview with BIG Smith News Watch on Monday afternoon following the announcement, the New Chief of Staff was asked about the ability, readiness, and willingness of the Guyana Defence Force to support law enforcement in the event of any disturbance following the declaration of the results of the elections.

“We are able and ready to support law enforcement and let me remind you that the GDF is non-political” Colonel Bess told BIG Smith News Watch.

At the moment the Guyana Police Force is on high alert even as it deals with pockets of election-related gatherings and as well as enforcement of the COVID-19 guidelines which continues to be flouted by individuals who fail to exercise social distancing.

Colonel Bess is a father of three children who joined the Guyana Defence Force on January 15 1990 as an Officer Cadet before becoming a commissioned officer on December 05 of the same year.

He told this publication that he worked in several areas of the force including training, planning command, administration, and finance with the latter being his last post where he served as the Quarter Masters General or in other words, the finance officer of the force.

Asked about his work ethics, Bess noted that he works and gets along well with peers and others around him and is usually very interested in inclusionary management. He also posited that he brings to the table, experience in management, and administration.

The Chief of Staff (ag) said that his main focus while holding the forth would be to build on the strength and successes of his predecessor Mr. West and all those who would have contributed to the organization the Guyana Defence Force is today.

Colonel Bess told BIG Smith News Watch that since joining the Guyana Defence Force, he had aspirations of reaching to the top.

He said the vision of the Guyana Defence Force is clear and he understands the vision and would work with his team and soldiers to ensure that Guyana remains a safe and secure place for Guyanese.