Mark Phillips (Guyanese politician)

Childhood Mark Phillips was born on 5 October 1961 in Georgetown, Guyana at the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC) to parents Medford Phillips and Cynthia Alexander. At age 5, his parents moved to Christianburg, Linden where his father was a mason who worked in the bauxite industry, at the time DEMBA. His mother died when he was age 7 and along with one of his brothers, he was raised solely by his father. == Military career ==

In December 1980, he joined the Guyana Defence Force as an Officer cadet and travelled to the United Kingdom for military training on the Standard Military Officers’ Course Number 26, at the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Phillips has also been Guyana's head of delegation to the Inter-American Defence Board from 2008 to 2009, and was Guyana's non-resident military attaché to Venezuela. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier in 2013 by President Donald Ramotar, before he took command of the defence force. He was appointed as the chief of the staff of the Guyana Defence Force in September 2013 and served in that position until his retirement in October 2018. Immediately following his retirement in October 2018, Brigadier Phillips was inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the CGSC, Kansas, USA. This honour is bestowed to graduates who have achieved the highest military office in their respective country. == Political career ==

Brigadier Mark Phillips was chosen as the running mate of People' Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Dr. Irfaan Ali in the 2020 Elections. After five months of a political stalemate, the People's Progressive Party/Civic was declared the winners of the 2020 general and regional elections in Guyana. On 2 August 2020, Dr. Irfaan Ali was sworn in as the 9th president of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. Dr. Ali in his first official act as president appointed Brigadier Mark Phillips as the 9th prime minister of Guyana on the same day. As prime minister, the Hon. Brigadier Mark Anthony Phillips is the constitutional successor for the president of Guyana in case of a vacancy. Brigadier Phillips also serves as the first vice president. Premiership (2020–present) Following his appointment as prime minister, the Brigadier Mark Phillips was assigned the responsibility for the energy sector, Civil Defence Commission (CDC), and the information sector. Brigadier Phillips also sits on the Defence Board of Guyana. == Personal life ==

Brigadier Mark Phillips is the father of four children and is married to Mignon Bowen-Phillips. ==References==