President Donald Ramotar, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has approved the promotion of 348 members of the Guyana Defence Force in accordance with the Defence Act Chapter 15:01, of 1977.
A release from the GDF said that Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips had announced the approval for 88 Officers and 260 other ranks to be promoted with effect from January 1, 2014.
This group included 42 Officers and 96 other ranks who were confirmed in their rank and 46 officers and 164 other ranks who were elevated in rank.
Leading the promotions list were 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 were promoted
to the rank of Acting Lieutenant Colonel.
According to the release, soldiers confirmed in their rank have earned the ‘Substantive’ (Sub) in that rank, after previously holding the ‘Acting’ rank.
Further, four Majors, including one female, were confirmed in their rank, while Substantive Captains Dwayne Carter, Mark St Claire, James Fraser, Julian Archer and Drumson Mc Caulay were promoted to Acting Major. Seventeen Acting Captains, including three females, are now confirmed in their rank, while Substantive Lieutenant Jocelyn Mc Allister was promoted to the rank of Acting Captain with effect from January 1, 2012. Ten other Substantive Lieutenants, including one female, are now Acting Captains.
Additionally, 10 Acting Lieutenants were promoted to Substantive Lieutenant, while 10 Second Lieutenants were promoted to Acting Lieutenant.
In the Coast Guard, Acting Lieutenants (CG) Nigel Backer and Wayne Richmond were confirmed in their rank, while Substantive Sub Lieutenants Paul Castello and Travis Morgan were promoted to Acting Lieutenant (CG) and seven Acting Sub Lieutenants were confirmed in their rank.
Midshipmen Derrick Johnson, Rudolph Singh and Rondel Douglas are now Acting Sub Lieutenants.
In the GDF Reserve, Substantive Captain Earl Edghill was promoted to Acting Major, while 10 Second Lieutenants were promoted to Acting Lieutenant.
The release further said that of the 260 other ranks who were promoted, 96 have been confirmed in their rank while 164 have been elevated in rank. Heading this group was Staff Sergeant Christopher Harmon who was 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 to 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 and five Substantive Leading Ratings are now Acting Petty Officers.
Six Acting Leading Ratings are now confirmed in their rank. Additionally, three Substantive Able Ratings were promoted to Acting Leading Ratings while five Acting Able Ratings were confirmed in their rank. Ordinary Rating Collis Parkinson has been promoted to Substantive Able Rating and four other Ordinary Ratings have been elevated to the rank of Acting Able Rating.
At a simple Badging Ceremony held yesterday the recently promoted Senior Officers were decorated with their new badges of rank by the Chief-Of-Staff, assisted by Deputy Chief of Staff, Colonel Kemraj Persaud. The officers were congratulated by the other senior officers present and the recently promoted Majors were welcomed to the Corps of Senior Officers.
The Commander-in-Chief and Chief-of-Staff extended congratulations to all the promoted soldiers, the release added.
