“I am elated, I feel proud just as when I conquered that mountain. This award will further motivate me to continue to give of my best to fellow army veterans, who, due to circumstances beyond their control, depend upon me to look after their welfare. My family is also proud of my achievement,” are the sentiments of veteran soldier, Beverly Ann Somerset.

Listed among the 2020 National Awardees, Somerset is one among 23 persons who have been bestowed with the Medal of Service (MS).

She is a retired Staff Sergeant of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who currently functions as the Veterans Welfare Officer, a job that is dear to her heart because some of her charges are physically challenged.

When Somerset, nicknamed `Thriller’, retired from the GDF, she left a distinguished record behind, of not only being among the early set of females to venture into a traditional male arena, but has being a renowned training officer.

In addition to being the longest female training officer, Somerset is known to have trained several of the females who subsequently obtained high ranking status in the army.
One of her memorable feats is being the first woman soldier to conquer Mount Ayangana in 1992.The mountain is located 85 kilometres and east of Mount Roraima with a height of 2,041 metres.

The lone female among 11 men, the expedition to climb Mount Ayangana was part of the army’s activities to commemorate Guyana’s Republic Anniversary that year. She was part of the GDF contingent. Such is the deftness of Somerset, who wanted to prove to her male counterparts that she was no walkover as a female soldier.

Somerset who hails from Beterverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) was born on September 30, 1956.