Commander-in-Chief President Donald Ramotar has approved the promotion of 88 officers and 260 other ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the army confirmed last Friday.
Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips made the announcement in accordance with the Defence Act Chapter 15:01 of 1977. The promotions took effect from January 1. According to a GDF statement, 42 officers and 96 other ranks were confirmed in their rank while 46 officers and 164 ranks were elevated in rank.
Leading the promotions list are Lieutenant Colonels Sherwin Anderson and Godfrey Bess who were confirmed in their rank. Lieutenant Commander Orin Porter of the Coast Guard was promoted to acting commander, while Majors Dwain Jervis, Trevor Bowman and Kenlloyd Roberts have been promoted to the rank of acting lieutenant colonel.
In addition, four majors, including one female, have been confirmed in their rank, while substantive captains Dwayne Carter, Mark St Claire, James Fraser, Julian Archer and Drumson Mc Caulay have been promoted to acting majors. Seventeen acting captains, including three females, are now confirmed in their rank, while Substantive Lieutenant Jocelyn Mc Allister has been promoted to the rank of acting captain with effect from January 1, 2012.
Ten other substantive lieutenants, including one female, are now acting captains. Ten acting lieutenants have been promoted to substantive lieutenant, while 10 second lieutenants have been promoted to acting lieutenant.
In the Coast Guard, acting lieutenants (CG) Nigel Backer and Wayne Richmond have been confirmed in their rank, while substantive sub lieutenants Paul Castello and Travis Morgan have been promoted to acting lieutenant (CG) and seven acting sub lieutenants have been confirmed in their rank.
Further, the GDF said Midshipmen Derrick Johnson, Rudolph Singh and Rondel Douglas are now acting sub lieutenants. In the GDF Reserve, Substantive Captain Earl Edghill has been promoted to acting major, while 10 second lieutenants have been promoted to acting lieutenant.
Two hundred and sixty other ranks have been promoted. Of this number, 96 have been confirmed in their rank, while 164 have been elevated in rank. Heading this group is Staff Sergeant Christopher Harmon, who has been promoted to acting warrant officer class two.
Warrant officers class two; Dwayne Layne, Marcia Williams, Sherlock Rigby, Dyanor Wilson, Leyland Liverpool and Hesley Craig were confirmed in their appointment.
The remaining 253 other ranks were promoted through ranks ranging from acting warrant officer class two, to acting lance corporal.
Other promotions in the Coast Guard saw Substantive Petty Officer Dexter Fraser being elevated in rank to acting senior petty officer.
Meanwhile, three acting petty officers were confirmed in their rank, while five substantive leading ratings are now acting petty officers. Six acting leading ratings are now confirmed in their rank. Additionally, three substantive able ratings have been promoted to acting leading ratings while five acting able ratings have been confirmed in their rank.
Ordinary Rating, Collis Parkinson has been promoted to acting able rating/substantive able rating and four other ordinary ratings have been elevated to the rank of acting able rating.
Soldiers confirmed in their rank have earned the substantive (Sub) in that rank, after previously holding the acting rank.
At a simple badging ceremony, the recently promoted senior officers were decorated with their new badges of rank by Brigadier Mark Phillips, who was assisted by Deputy Chief-of-Staff, Colonel Kemraj Persaud.
