Free VHF Radio training for South Leeward fishers

By Admin. Updated 7:51 p.m., Thursday, June 2, 2022, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

A bird’s eye view of a cross-section of Clare Valley and Questelles, South Leeward. Photo: Demion McTair.

The National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission – NTRC will host a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System- GMDSS Training Session in the South Leeward community of Clare Valley.

According to the Un Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is an international system that uses terrestrial and satellite technology and ship-board radio systems to ensure rapid, automated alerting of shore-based communication and rescue authorities, in addition to ships in the immediate vicinity, in the event of a marine distress.

In a press release, the NTRC said it is hosting the GMDSS VHF Radio training session in collaboration with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard and that the session will be free.

The training Session is scheduled to take place on Thursday June 9, 2022, from 5:00PM – 7:00PM at the Clare Valley Government School and is open to fishers from surrounding communities.

The training session will inform fishermen and other persons about the GMDSS VHF network which was implemented by the NTRC to facilitate emergency and non-emergency communications at sea. Additionally, attendees will be trained on the use of the GMDSS VHF radios, the release stated.

At the end of the training session the NTRC will raffle a portable GMDSS VHF radio valued at $800. The raffle is free and will be open to all participants attending the training session. Light refreshments will be provided, the release further stated.

For more information, persons can contact the NTRC at (784) 457 2279 or WhatsApp (784) 498 8292.