It was a glorious afternoon of mixed emotions - sadness and a sense of satisfaction - when the Guyana Police Force held a grand farewell parade in honour of Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis, who has been at its helm for 11 long years.

Attired in his ceremonial uniform, which was free of all creases, Commissioner Lewis went out in fine style, witnessed by several officials including, President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, Leader of the Opposition, Desmond Hoyte, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Michael Atherly, Chancellor Desiree Bernard, Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj and Commissioner Floyd McDonald, who took over the mantle from Lewis.

Under the sunny sky, the police band soothed the ears as Lewis, standing in the back of a van which was draped in the police colours, inspected the police ranks, well dressed in their uniforms and standing in a circle on the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.

The afternoon's proceedings would have been totally solemn with ranks attempting to hide their tears, were it not for the hilarity of Assistant Commissioner Ovid Glasgow.

Glasgow was given the task of chairing the afternoon's proceedings and he did more than that as he had all those present in an uproar at his jokes. As he rightly said he was trying to "lighten" up the programme.

Called to the podium to make his last public speech as commissioner of the Guyana Police Force, Lewis publicly admitted that the dark shades he was wearing at the time was to shield the fact that he was in tears.

Lewis described yesterday's parade as one of the best he has ever seen. "I was touched with a lot of emotion," Lewis told the hundreds who turned up to wish him farewell. He went down memory lane giving brief descriptions of the 40 years he spent in the force.

He gave the large gathering a concise list of all his accomplishments commenting that since no one would blow his trumpet he might as well do it himself. He spoke of his years before and after joining the force and mentioning his dream of a medical career which went "overboard" because his commitment to the force.

Lewis described his 11 years as commissioner as the "hardest years of his life." Lewis noted that he has worked under five presidents and disclosed that the transition periods were very "painful."

"But I did not do it alone," he said, referring to the more than adequate support he received from his ranks. He told the gathering that "we are in good hands in terms of preparation," referring no doubt to the fact the McDonald would stand in his shoes.

Lewis, who has been the second longest serving commissioner in the country's history, asked the ranks present to gave McDonald the full support they had given him over the years.