Army confirms court-martialed rank released

The Guyana Defence Force has reported that Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Edward Collins, utilizing the powers granted him under Section 111 (4) of the Defence Act 15:01, has remitted the Warrant Officer's sentence of detention.

The Warrant Officer was found guilty of two counts following a court martial in the wake of the loss of 33 AK-47s and five pistols. According to the army, following the court martial where Warrant Officer Peters was found guilty on charges of Conduct and Neglect to the Prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline, he was sentenced to one year detention and reduced to the rank of Private.

But the army refuted what it described as several inaccuracies contained in the Kaieteur News article headlined “Jailed Warrant Officer Released.”

“In effect, this means that though he will no longer have to serve time in detention, his conviction still stands as does the sentence of him being reduced to the rank of Private, contrary to the news article,” the GDF press release stated.

Additionally, and again contrary to the news article, the benefits Warrant Officer Peters will receive will be in the rank of Private and there is no question of him resigning from the Force as he will be retired, the army said.

The army was silent on this development for almost two weeks and had it not been for some intense investigative reporting by this newspaper, the public would not have known about it.

Several calls were made to the GDF headquarters, none of which were returned, as this newspaper sought to confirm the information it had at its disposal.