by Linda Straker
- Appointed by Governor General as of 30 March 2023
- Appointment letter published in Government Gazette of 12 May
- Cadet Corps established in 2012
Nigel Noel, who served as an advisor to former Prime Minister Tillman Thomas, has been appointed by the Governor General as of 30 March 2023 to serve as the Commandant of the Grenada Cadet Corps for 3 years from 2 January 2023.
His appointment letter was published in the 12 May 2023 edition of the Government Gazette, approximately 5 months after he began serving in the post. The letter states, “Reposing especial trust and confidence in your loyalty, courage and good conduct, I do by these present appoint you to be the Commandant of the Grenada Cadet Corps for a period of three (3) years with effect from the 2nd day of January 2023.
“You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your duty as Commandant, and you are at all times to exercise and well discipline in arms such officers and members of the Grenada Cadet Corps serving under you and use your best endeavour to keep them in good order and discipline.
“And I do hereby command them to obey you as their Superior Officer, and you to observe and follow such orders and directions as from time to time you shall receive from me, or any other, your Superior Officer, in pursuance of the trust hereby reposed in you. GIVEN under my hand and the Public Seal at Governor-General’s Office, St George’s, Grenada, this 30th day of March 2023.”
The Cadet Corps was established in 2012 after both Houses of Parliament approved the Grenada Cadet Corps legislation. At the time, Tillman Thomas was the Prime Minister.
The functions of the Cadet Corps, according to the legislation are to:
- inspire young persons to achieve success with a spirit of service and community, and to develop the qualities of good citizenship, responsibility and leadership
- to provide a formal, well-regulated and highly disciplined organisation operating within schools and communities
- to attract and train as cadets, a significant number of young persons between the ages of 11 and 20
- to promote self-respect, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-discipline and loyalty among members of the Cadet Corps
- to promote the value of leadership and the ability to work and function as a team
- to provide progressive training of a challenging and exciting nature in order to foster alertness, physical and mental endurance and camaraderie
- to provide military-style training and discipline among the membership of the Cadet Corps; and
- to establish the highest possible standards of excellence in all areas of operations of the Cadet Corps
The legislation provides for establishing a Committee to manage the affairs of the Cadet Corps, and that committee shall advise the Minister on matters of policy relating to the Cadet Corps; advise the Commandant on such matters as are referred to the Committee by the Minister or by the Commandant; advise the Minister on the establishment of new Units and the strengthening of the established Units.
