State to continue supporting soldier injured in fireworks explosion- PM

Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Tuesday, said the State will continue to provide much needed support to Sergeant Gordon Cornette, who was among soldiers injured during a fireworks explosion in February.

The PM visited the injured officer at his Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home and was sympathetic to his situation. The Prime Minister assured Sergeant Cornette that his medical expenses will continue to be covered by the State.

Sergeant Cornette suffered burns to his hands and face during an explosion while on duty at the Guyana Defence Force, Coast Guard base in Ruimveldt, Georgetown in February of this year. Corporal Seon Rose, 31, who was among the injured, died days after the explosion while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Rose had sustained third degree burns to 90 per cent of his body.
The PM assured the soldier and his family that the State has the welfare of all its service men and women at heart, and “whatever specialist help he needs to recover, he would get it”.

“GDF and the state of Guyana will look after him for the rest of his life…I spent 36 years in the GDF and I myself was responsible for the care of people who got injured and the families of people who got injured,” the Prime Minister said.

Anya Cornette, the sister of the soldier, expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister for visiting the family.

“This was much appreciated, you taking time out of your busy schedule to visit and listen…it was in the press that the army will visit and you showed up, so it will show that you kept your promise, I just want to encourage you to continue putting your best foot forward,” she said.
Similar sentiments were shared by father of the soldier, Gordon Cornette (Snr.).

Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess, The Force’s Medical Officer, Major Nigel Langhorne and other representatives of the Force accompanied the Prime Minister.