The more than 150 participants who attended this year’s Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force Coast Guard Youth Development summer programme, have been advised to become responsible leaders.{{more}}

The guidance came from the various speakers at a closing ceremony for the programme, which took place last Saturday at the coast guard base in Calliaqua, during which the youngsters were presented with certificates and medals for participation and outstanding performances in their track and field day activities.

Featured speaker Mikhail Charles, himself a graduate of the programme which has been running for 21 years, implored the students to take the knowledge gained during the three-week exercise, and share with their families, friends, and classmates, as they seek to develop the leadership skills they were taught.

“As graduates of the coast guard programme, we must show strong character trustworthiness. We must have confidence in ourselves; we must have confidence within our teams and our decision-making capacities.

“We must be able to have strong communication skills and we must be able to empathise… we have to demonstrate to persons looking up to us or looking across to us that we have some element of self pride, and we must be able to respect ourselves and our fellow man…,” Charles told the participants.

The young lawyer said that the coast guard and its partners Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Sagicor, should be applauded taking the time to influence the lives of the youths who have taken part in the workshop over the years; a number estimated to be close to 3,000.

Also encouraging the youngsters to take a leading role in their communities, schools and homes was Deputy Commissioner of Police Reynold Hadaway, who urged the youths to use the knowledge to make a contribution towards national development.

“When you go back to your communities you will feel a deep sense of satisfaction as you look back on the lives you have touched and changed along the way.

“The knowledge gained at the programme will certainly make you better men and woman at home, in your schools, in your communities and most importantly in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“You should be better placed to make decisions.”

Miss SVG 2014 Shadeisha George, representing the Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as Andrew Boyd of Sagicor, also implored the participants to share their experiences, as they congratulated the coast guard for hosting the event.

Petty officer Kenlet Francis, coordinator of this year’s summer programme, said that the event this year was another successful one undertaken by the coast guard, as it exposed the participants to a wide range of topics including history of the coast guard, personal and leadership development, conflict resolution, navigation, seamanship, safety at sea, boat handling, tying of knots, substance abuse and prevention, human sexuality first aid and CPR, and professional etiquette.

The participants also toured the VINLEC power plant at Lowmans Bay, and were involved in a treasure hunt, sports and a picnic.

The coast guard was assisted by a number of individual facilitators, as well as by the Youth Affairs division, Fisheries division and Ministry of Health.

Participants entertained those in attendance Saturday with a self choreographed dance routine and a fashion show featuring a number of career options.