THE Guyana Defence Force’s Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best, announced yesterday that Commander-in-Chief President Donald Ramotar has approved the promotion of 69 officers, of which Substantive Lieutenant Colonel Windee Algernon has been elevated to Colonel.
The officers were promoted in accordance with part III, Section 16 of the Defence Act Chapter 15:01 or 1977.
Colonel Algernon’s elevation to her new rank is quite significant, since she is the first full-serving female member of any of the Caribbean’s armed forces to hold such an appointment, an army release said.
Some of the other officers promoted are  Colonel Kemraj Persaud confirmed as Colonel; Substantive Lieutenant Colonels Enoc Gaskin and Frances Abraham have been elevated in rank to Acting Colonel; Acting Lieutenants Colonel Lawrence Fraser and Ronald Hercules have been confirmed in their rank; Substantive Major Fitzroy Warde has been elevated in rank to Substantive Lieutenant Colonel; Substantive Majors Ramkarran Doodnauth, Gary Baird, Godfrey Bess, Julius Skeete, Anderson and Omar Khan have been elevated in rank to Acting Lieutenant Colonels; and Acting Major Raul Jerrick has been confirmed in his rank.
The release also stated that 13 Substantive Captains have been elevated in rank to Acting Major; seven Acting Captains have been confirmed in their rank; eight Substantive Lieutenants have been elevated in rank to Acting Captains; Substantive Lieutenant Kevin Moore has been promoted to Local Captain; eight Acting Lieutenants have been confirmed in their rank; eight Second Lieutenants have been elevated in rank to Acting Lieutenant; in the Coast Guard, Substantive Lieutenant Adrian Mc Lean has been elevated in rank to Acting Lieutenant; three Acting Sub Lieutenants, including one female, have been elevated in rank to Substantive Sub Lieutenant; in the GDF Reserve, Substantive Major Clifton Innis has been elevated in rank to Acting Lieutenant Colonel; Acting Major Irshad Alli has been confirmed in his rank; three Acting Captains have been confirmed in their rank; and Acting Lieutenant Dwayne Mitchell has been elevated to the rank of Substantive Lieutenant.
The release stated that the newly-promoted senior officers received their new badges of rank yesterday at a ceremony at the Officers’ Club, Base Camp Ayanganna.
Both the Commander-in-Chief and Chief-of-Staff extended congratulations to all the promoted officers.