SVG Coast Guard: Brains, Brawn and Beauty

Twenty years ago, women in certain branches of our armed services was unheard of, but today there are women in the Special Services Unit (SSU), Rapid Response Unit (RRU) and the coastguard service, and they are just as valued as their male counterparts.{{more}}

While there is still a large disparity in the male to female ratio in the St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Coastguard, more and more women are choosing to become coastguard officers, says Commander James.

A five-week Basic Seamanship Course conducted by the SVG Coastguard ended today with the graduation of 15 students including 5 female officers. Anmarie Thomas of the St Lucian Coastguard told SEARCHLIGHT that the course was very informative and will take her a long way in her career.

Miss SVG contestant and recent Police Training School graduate Lekeysha Glynn also took the course. She said that balancing the pageant along with studies and work is very stressful but will pay off as it will build her discipline and confidence. Glynn hopes to pursue studies in Business Management and be a role model to young Vincentians.

Petty Officer Kirby, one of the instructors on the course told SEARCHLIGHT, that the course was designed to equip the participants to perform their duties in a professional and safe manner. Kirby is an 11-year-old veteran of the SVG Coastguard. He also spent seven years working as a police officer.

The Basic Seamanship Course was open to Caribbean states that are members of the Regional Security Service (RSS). Grenada sent two male officers, St Lucia sent one male and one female officer while the lone civilian to take the course was Samuel Saxon of Union Island. He represented the Tobago Cays Marine Park. A male cadet also took the course.(AC)