The rift within the Bermuda Regiment widened yesterday with the head of the Promotions Board striking back at a soldier who is angry two candidates for the top job are being passed over.

Former Commanding Officer Allan Rance also sought to clarify comments attributed to him in The Royal Gazette on Monday which indicated the Promotions Board had not made a recommendation to the Governor for Commanding Officer of the Regiment.

Meanwhile a Regimental insider yesterday questioned the decision making and called for the process to be based on merit.

"We should be concerned about the remarks made because they are symptomatic of a decline in organisational and personal self-discipline,'' Col. Rance wrote in a Letter to the Editor.

Calling the board's make-up "a diverse cross section'' of the community, Col.

Rance called the suggestion that there was a lack of fairness or justice in the choice of Maj. David Gibbons over Majors Edward Lamb and Larry Mussenden "extremely narrow''.

Currently the Governor appoints the Defence Board and the Defence Promotions Board.

The Promotions Board is chaired by Col. Rance, and is made up of three retired officers -- Larry Burchall, Randall Butler and Eugene Raynor -- and Garry Madeiros and Roderick Pearman.

The sitting Colonel in charge makes a recommendation to the Promotions Board who makes a recommendation back to him on the best choice for the Regiment's leader.

Defence Board hits back "Your reporter's source needs to stop and think about the statement,'' Col.

Rance continued, "that business appears to be continuing as normal after the inclusion of members who were expected to right the perceived wrongs of the past.'' He added: "The source does not give credit where credit is due. The decisions made have been universally agreed.'' Col. Rance wrote that if "business is continuing as normal'' then decisions are made on a fair and level playing field and the decisions enjoy "broad support''.

He added: "The source ought to accept that while the decisions may not coincide with his narrow point of view, they are made with the overall best interests of the Regiment in mind.'' Concerning comments in Monday's Royal Gazette , Col. Rance said: "I tried to qualify my statements but unfortunately I must have confused your reporter or he got one important fact incorrect in his summary.

"The published report stated that no recommendation has been made yet. That is not correct,'' he said.

Col. Rance again clarified the selection process is not complete until the Governor makes his decision and it is announced.

"There has been no public announcement so the selection process is not complete,'' he wrote. "It is not appropriate to make public comments on the recommendations or the selection process itself.'' But the Regiment insider said: "Command of the Regiment is not based on a popularity contest.

"It's the ability to lead and having a rapport with all those who serve, from the private soldier right up to the Commander-in-Chief,'' he said.

"It's important to note that Majors Lamb and Mussenden are tough in their own ways. But it is about what is best for the Regiment.'' He continued: "You can't tell a Sergeant you must do this and you must do that before you get promoted to Colour Sergeant. You can't set up criteria for everybody else within the rank structure and have the top job come with no requirements -- even the most basic kind of duties.'' He added: "Most people are confident that justice will be done. It's most unfortunate that things will be done hard before they are done right.''