Saturday August 21 saw 119 youngsters graduate from the annual Coast Guard Youth Summer Programme held at the Base at Calliaqua. {{more}}
The programme, which was sponsored by the National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Sagicor, is into its 11th year and growing steadily. This year saw attendance increase from the 100 youngsters who participated in 2003.
Stanley Browne, sales manager at Sagicor (Barbados Mutual Life), speaking at the closing ceremony, said that Sagicor is extremely happy to be in partnership with the coastguard in the partnership that attempts to channel young people in a proper direction.
Browne commended the coastguard and stated that although facilitators have changed over the years, the quality of the programme has never been compromised. He praised the instructors for facilitating the three-week programme free of cost.
Meanwhile, founder of the Summer Programme, Lieutenant Commander Tyrone James, said that the programme has touched a lot of lives. He said that the programme, which runs for one week, has two parts. He said the first part teaches seamanship, boat handling, safety at sea, first aid, swimming and life saving while the second part looks at substance abuse, conflict resolution, social and professional etiquette, human sexuality and leadership development, among other things.
Also speaking at the closing ceremony was Commissioner of Police William Harry who commented that he feels adults should stop blaming the youths and start “blaming ourselves for the situations that we put them into.
“All the negatives we preach, all the immoral things that happen around them, we the adults are the ones who have shaped that sort of environment for them to live in,” said Harry.
Harry said the gathering of young people at the Coastguard Base was a clear indication that we have a lot of hope for the future.
“With the sort of talent we see here, I am sure that they would be good men and women in the days to come,” he said.
Harry noted that it is commendable that the participants have sacrificed their time and activities to be involved in the Coastguard Summer Programme.
He also thanked the parents for sending their children to the programme and said that he hopes that the programme will grow further. The Coastguard Summer Programme has touched some 1089 persons since its inception.