26 SVG Coast Guard Officers now better prepared due to Basic Seamanship Course

By Admin. Updated 10:05 p.m., Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Twenty-six (26) members of the SVG Coast Guard branch of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) are now better prepared for their duties after successfully completing a course in Basic Seamanship, police say.

In a July 23 press release, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said the course facilitated by the Regional Security System (RSS) was offered to the SVG Coast Guard officers as the RSVGPF demonstrates its commitment to excellence in training.

“This rigorous five-week foundation training, held from June 10 to July 12, 2024, saw 26 graduates achieving an impressive overall average of 84.5%. The program, designed to equip Coast Guard personnel with essential maritime law enforcement skills, covered a wide range of topics, including knots and splices, boarding techniques and procedures, first aid, basic engineering troubleshooting, nautical terminology, ship husbandry, and navigation, etc,” police said.

“The training was spearheaded by Commander (Ag) of the SVG Coast Guard Services, Mr. Deon Henry, who expressed his gratitude to the lecturers and support staff for their dedication in making the RSS Basic Seamanship Course 2024 a success,” the release added.

The release said: “Commander Henry emphasized that the course provided the personnel with the fundamentals of coast guard duties and seamanship, noting that 26 of the trained personnel have met these objectives. He proudly highlighted that this batch represents the largest group of coast guard personnel to be trained in the basic seamanship course, including 11 coast guard auxiliaries. In his address, Commander Henry encouraged the graduates to let integrity, loyalty, discipline, teamwork, respect, and devotion to duty be their guiding principles as they embark on their journey as Coast Guard officers,” the release added.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a multi-island state comprising 32 islands and cats. The Coast Guard’s service is important in protecting the borders and aiding in providing transportation in response to medical emergencies, among other functions.

The rest of the release, verbatim (word for word):

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Frankie Joseph underscored the importance of the training, stating that as law enforcement officers, one must possess the ability and motivation to do the job. He remarked that the training prepares them for the tasks at hand and equips them with the necessary tools to perform their duties effectively. Mr. Joseph highlighted the intensity and methodological nature of the course, reminding the graduates to put everything they have learned into practice. He stressed that failing to do so would not only be a personal failure but also a failure to the nation and the region. He concluded by reassuring that the country’s national security is on solid ground, thanks to the training the personnel received.

Lt. Commander Rolrick Sobers, Regional Maritime Officer of the Regional Security System, described the course as a significant launch pad in maritime law enforcement. He wished the graduates continued success in their careers and emphasized the evolving nature of maritime law enforcement. Lt. Commander Sobers encouraged the graduates to stay ahead of the curve and to grow into the changes they wish to see in maritime enforcement. He reminded them that they would face various tests in their duties and must always produce work of the highest standard. He left them with pointed advice: “work hard, play hard, but most importantly, do your job.”

The RSS Basic Seamanship Course is a foundational maritime law enforcement training program offered by the RSS Training Institute and facilitated by local instructors from the SVG Coast Guard Service. It aims to prepare coast guard personnel to effectively perform their duties in ensuring maritime safety and security. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical hands-on exercises, providing a comprehensive educational experience that is crucial for the professional development of maritime law enforcement officers.