Coast Guard ends 2009 Summer Youth Development Programme

For the 16th straight year, more than 100 children completed what is being considered another successful hosting of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard’s annual Youth Development Programme.{{more}}

At the rain-interrupted closing ceremony on Friday, August 21st, facilitators, sponsors and participants expressed satisfaction with this year’s programme, indicating that they were looking forward to future summer programmes.

Main sponsors of the programme, the National Commercial Bank (NCB), represented by Cheryl Rodriguez, and Sagicor, represented by Victor Peters, congratulated the coast guard for hosting the event over the years, and both indicated that they were happy to be partnering in the project.

They praised the positive molding of the youngsters’ minds during the programme and suggested that summer programmes such as this should be a rule rather than an exception.

Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, also at the closing ceremony, heaped praise on the Coast Guard, the students and parents for making the annual programme possible and successful, urging the students to make use of the information gathered over the month long exercise.

Beginning in July, 111 children between 14 and 18 years old turned up at the Coast Guard base at Calliaqua in three ‘phases’. During the course, they covered areas such as boat handling, navigation and seamanship, knots and splices, conflict resolution, human sexuality, craftwork, substance abuse and prevention, among other things.

The sessions were conducted by members of the coast guard, with officials from the Ministries of Health, Agriculture and Fisheries, along with other institutions, contributing to the programme.

Coast Guard officials indicated that this year’s programme lived up to its usual high expectations, stating that the students’ response to what was taught was exceptional. They indicated that they are considering adding to the present course offering if and where possible.(JJ)