Woman heads PM’s residence

MAJOR SHARON ALFONSO is the new Comptroller of the Household at the Prime Minister’s residence.

She replaces retired Mayor Wayne Johnson who has gone back to the Volunteer Defence Force Unit. Alfonso, the most senior female officer in the Defence Force, took up duties on Tuesday at the residence of Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his wife Hazel. This is the second stint at the Prime Minister’s residence for Alfonso, who also served during the tenure of then Prime Minister Basdeo Panday between November 1999 and July 2000. The job of Comptroller at the PM’s residence became a household name on April 19, 1999 when the then Comptroller Commander Noel Penco was shot dead by a member of staff, Corporal Anthony Caesar who then turned the gun on himself.

Lt Wayne Armour of the Coast Guard replaced Penco, before Alfonso had a brief stint. She was later replaced by Captain Gary Griffith who remained in the job until early 2002. Major Alfonso was also Comptroller at President’s House at one time during the tenure of President and Mrs Hassanali. She also served as aide to Mrs Patricia Robinson when she was wife of Prime Minister Robinson in early 1987. She returned as aide to Mrs Hassanali for a brief period when she was the First Lady at President’s House. Alfonso joined the TT Regiment with the first batch of female recruits on July 1, 1980. Months later, she was made an officer Cadet. The following year, Alfonso was promoted to Second Lieutenant. She was made a full Lieutenant in 1983 and four years later was promoted to Captain.

In 1994, she rose to the rank of Major, the only female soldier at that rank. During her tenure, Alfonso was the public relations officer of the Defence Force from 1991 to 1998. She had replaced Lt Col Dave Williams. She was eventually succeeded by Roman Catholic Priest Father Kennedy Swaratsingh, who also held the post of Welfare Officer. Alfonso was the first female officer to head a company in the Regiment. She was commanding officer of Admin Company, which was based at Teteron Barracks. Major Alfonso has attended several military courses during her career in the Regiment. In 1982, she attended the Women’s Royal Army College Commander’s course in England.

In 1986, she attended the Soldier Support Institute in Indiana and also a training institute for female soldiers in Alabama. In 1994, Alfonso attended the Adjutant General Officer’s Advance course as well as a public affairs course in Indiana. Major Alfonso was off in 2000 to the Land Forces Command and General Staff College in Canada. The mother of 14-year-old Carlon, Major Alfonso is pursuing her Master’s Degree in General Management at the School of Accounting and Management in Curepe.