And at that ceremony, Alma Pinelo was also promoted from Lieutenant Commander to Commander. She's the first woman to reach this rank and she's also the first ever chief of staff. The media asked her what her new role and her new promotion means for her - and whether she's on the path to commandant.
Commander Alma Pinelo, Chief of Staff, BCG
"It acts kind of like an intermediary between the upper command which is the vice commandant and the commandant and then the rest of the general staff and the rest of the coast guard. It was something that was approved by the board of command months ago and officially appointed this week for me to take up that post."
"Heavy is the crown right. It is an honor, I feel very privileged to be able to take up this new post. It is always a pleasure to work with the men and women from the Belize Coast Guard and I feel happy, I'm excited. It's something new so a little nervous as well because we're going to figure it out as we go along in terms of getting used to another layer in that command structure because we're only used to having the and then the commandant so we'll have to get used to something new. Something new is always good so definitely a privilege and an honor to take up this new post."
Reporter:
"In terms of succession, is it that you would at some point come to be the commandant?"
Commander Alma Pinelo, Chief of Staff, BCG
"It does solidify that but it could be anything. I joined in 2008 as a cadet through the BDF so I've been in the government service for about 16 years now so it does do that being that above the rank of commander there's only two more so in a sense maybe yes, who knows."
