Army captain in promotion row returns from US course
Stabroek News
May 28, 2003
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain at the centre of a promotion controversy returned to Guyana over the weekend, truncating a five-month artillery training course he was pursuing in the United States.
Reports state that Capt. David Clarke, who started the course in February, was ordered to return to Guyana by his Commander-in-Chief, President Bharrat Jagdeo. Army sources said yesterday that Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier General Michael Atherly is currently engaging President Jagdeo on the issue.
“We are optimistically looking forward to a proper resolution to that matter,” a senior source said.
Clarke’s recall follows the denial of his promotion which had caused consternation among some senior army ranks. Clarke’s name was the only one struck from a list of promotions submitted to the Office of the President earlier this year, marking the first such case in the history of the army.
It is yet not clear what prompted the recall from the programme and why he was denied promotion.
Stabroek News understands that Clarke was stationed at Camp Buxton following the launch of Operation Tourniquet. He reportedly left the area sometime late last year. Clarke was recommended for promotion after a promotions panel chaired by Chief of Staff Atherly, approved the recommendation of Clarke’s battalion commander.
The battalion commander’s recommendation was based on Clarke’s attitude and performance in his substantive rank, his suitability for promotion to a higher rank and authority as well as his suitability for retention in the army.
