In accordance with the Defence Act Chapter 15:01 of 1977, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff Gary Best has announced that the President and Commander-in-Chief has approved the promotions of 60 Officers and 423 Other Ranks effective January 1, 2010.

Chief of Staff (COS) Commodore Gary Best and Colonel J. B. Lovell decorate Acting Captain John Flores with his new Badge of Rank. ( Photo courtesy of GDF)

Twenty-seven Officers and 131 Other Ranks were confirmed in their Rank, while 33 Officers and 292 Other Ranks were elevated in rank.

At a Badging Ceremony held yesterday, the recently promoted Senior Officers were decorated with their new badges of rank by the Chief-Of-Staff, assisted by Colonel General Staff Colonel J B Lovell. The Officers were congratulated by the other Senior Officers present and the recently promoted Majors were welcomed to the Corps of Senior Officers.

Leading the promotions list are Acting Captain Coast Guard J R Flores and Acting Colonel G A Lewis, while Acting Lieutenant Colonel G A Beaton has been confirmed in his appointment. Majors L A Fraser, L A Saul and PA Arthur have been promoted to the rank of Acting Lieutenant Colonel.

Three Majors have been confirmed in their rank, while Substantive Captains D O George, L H Ramlall, M A Shahoud and Woman Substantive Captain H W Peters have been promoted to Acting Majors. Captain C W Martin has been promoted to Local Major.

Five Acting Captains are now confirmed in their rank, while four Substantive Lieutenants are now Acting Captains.

Nine Acting Lieutenants, including two females, have been promoted to Substantive Lieutenants.

Woman Officer Cadet T Isaacs and Officer Cadet N Backer have both been promoted to the rank of Substantive Lieutenant retroactively, from January 1, 2009.

Eleven Second Lieutenants have been promoted to Acting Lieutenants.

Substantive Lieutenants Coast Guard R O Rampersaud and T A Cordis have been promoted to Acting Lieutenant Coast Guard.

In the GDF Reserve, Acting Lieutenant Colonels L. Sobers, T. Stuart and M. Nezamudeen have been confirmed in their rank. Substantive Captain C Inniss is now a Substantive Major and Acting Lieutenant P. Jacobs has been confirmed in his rank. In addition, six Second Lieutenants, including one female, have been promoted to the rank of Acting Lieutenant.

Four hundred and twenty-three Other Ranks have been promoted. Of this number, 131 have been confirmed in their rank, while 292 have been elevated in rank. Heading this list is WO2 C Flatts who has been elevated to the rank of Acting Warrant Officer Class One (WO1).

The remaining 289 Other Ranks were promoted through ranks ranging from Acting Warrant Officer Class One to Acting Lance Corporal.

In the Coast Guard, one rank was promoted to Senior Petty Officer, four to Leading Ratings, 11 to Acting Leading Ratings, six to Able Ratings. Fourteen others were promoted to Acting Able Ratings.

Soldiers who are appointed to “Substantive” (Sub) rank have earned their confirmation in that rank after previously holding the “Acting” rank.

The Commander-in-Chief and Chief-of-Staff have extended congratulations to all the promoted soldiers.