Cain – Big plans in store for the SVG Coastguard in 2011

Commander of the St.Vincent and the Grenadines Coastguard Brenton Cain has outlined his organisation’s focus for 2011, stating that among the plans will be increased training to enhance the effectiveness of the younger members.{{more}}

Cain, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT, said at present 43 percent of the Coastguard’s membership are young and inexperienced, with four years and less service in the organization.

“It takes up to five years and more for a Coastguard member to learn the intricacy of the maritime environment and develop the skill to manage it,” said Cain. He said the practical aspect of Maritime training is very important, so that is the area in which the organization will be concentrating on.

In the area of Port Security, he said a dedicated team will be assigned to the various International Ship and Port facility (ISPS) code compliance ports in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, to ensure a more stringent compliance with the code, thus enhancing port security in the state.

Safety will be another area the Coastguard will be concentrating on during the year. He said the Coastguard has been working along with various organisations and schools over the years, and plans to continue along that path.

Cain disclosed that the Youth Development programme has been in existence for the past 17 years and has succeeded in providing training for 1, 690 youths. This initiative will be pursued again. He said in 2010, 120 application forms were available at the base for applicants on Friday afternoon, and by the Monday morning all the forms were gone.

On the issue of drownings at the various beaches here, Cain said: “There have been some unnecessary drownings over the years and we realized that not every youth gets to attend the summer programme, so we will be inviting ourselves into the schools to deliver the safety parts of the programme.” He said the intention is to go to every primary and secondary school in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

“ We will be helping the various voluntary organizations in the schools, like Scouts, in anyway we can. We have been receiving request from adults to conduct swimming classes, which is an area we will be exploring this year also,” said Cain.

The Commander said the Coastguard will continue to make St.Vincent and the Grenadines safe with its patrols. To this end, he said, an increase in the Coastguard’s surface assets is expected this year, which will go towards increasing the Coastguard’s presence, thus preventing and interrupting more of the illegal activities in the waters of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.