The newly promoted Acting Lieutenant Colonel is the fourth female of the GDF to have been elevated to this rank, according to a GDF press release.

The first was Retired Lt Col Brenda Aaron who was followed by currently serving Lt Cols Christine King and Yvonne Smith.

The two other senior officers decorated with their new badges of rank are Maj Kemraj Persaud and Lieutenant Commander John Flores of the Coast Guard. Maj Persaud now wears the rank of Ag Lt Col while Lt Comd Flores has been promoted to Ag Commander.

There were also six new names added to the GDF senior officers' list.

They are Captains Ivan McNaughton, Ramkarran Doodnauth, Lawrence Duncan, Marcus Ross, Fitzroy Warde and Lieutenant Latchman Narine of the Coast Guard.

With the exception of Mr. Narine, who has been elevated to the rank of Acting Lieutenant Commander, the Captains are now Majors.

According to the GDF rank structure, Commander and Lieutenant Commander of the Coast Guard are equivalent to the Army's Lieutenant Colonel and Major, respectively.

The release said that Brigadier Atherly was also pleased to announce that President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bharrat Jagdeo, approved the promotions of Ag Col Lawrence Paul to Substantive Col, Ag Lt Cols George Lewis and Francis Abraham to Substantive Lt Cols, as well as Acting Commander Terrence Pile and Acting Lieutenant Commander Trevor Blenman to Substantive Commander and Lieutenant Commander, respectively.

Seven Majors, five Captains, one Lieutenant (CG) and eight Lieutenants were confirmed in their ranks while nine Substantive Lieutenants and one Substantive Sub-Lieutenant were promoted to Acting Captains and Acting Lieutenant (CG), respectively.

One Second Lieutenant was promoted to Substantive Lieutenant while 12 Second Lieutenants were elevated to the rank of Acting Lieutenants and three Midshipmen (CG) were elevated to the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenants, the Army said.

The newly promoted Acting Lieutenant Colonels and Acting Commander (CG) were decorated with their badges of rank by Brigadier Atherly while the five Majors and one Lieutenant (CG) were decorated with their badges of rank by the Second-in Command of the GDF, Colonel Edward Collins.

The promotions took effect from January 1, 2003, the Army said.