Residents now better equipped in Basic Seamanship

Thirty residents of Chateaubelair have successfully completed the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Basic Seamanship Course.{{more}}

They were presented with certificates at a graduation ceremony on Friday, March 26, 2010, after a one-week exercise which started on Monday, March 22, 2010.

During the Basic Seamanship Course held at the Golden Grove Learning Resource Centre, Chateaubelair, participants were exposed to the History of the Coast Guard, Basic Engineering, Knots and Splices, Basic Navigation, First Aid, Rules of the Road, Boat Handling Theory, Safety at Sea and the Power Craft Act.

The course was held in conjunction with the Adult Continuing Education Unit of the Ministry of Education and the SVG Coast Guard.

Petty Officer William Theobalds, Coast Guard coordinator for the training, stated that the Coast Guard welcomes every opportunity to share its knowledge with communities, especially those along coastlines such as fishing and boating communities.

Hayden Ferdinand, Zone eight co-ordinator of the Adult Continuing Education Unit, in his address noted that the community of Chateaubelair needs to be aware of the important role of the Coast Guard Service and that they should not perceive it as a bad entity.

He congratulated the participants for taking the time to attend the training sessions and stressed that training is a continuous process and hope that it will be used as a stepping stone for personal development.

Sub Lieutenant Hamlett, Deputy Operations Officer, thanked the participants for attending the programme and requested that they use the information taught to enlighten their friends and families. He also stated that the Coast Guard recognizes that such programmes foster a closer working relationship with communities and will continue its efforts to create a positive relationship with the communities through programs such as this one.