13 graduate from Coast Guard from Basic Electrical- Engineering Course

Thirteen members of St Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard staff last Friday, August 23, 2024, graduated from a two-week Basic Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Course.

Sub-Lieutenant Gordon Charles, the course officer, delivering brief remarks at the closing ceremony

The successful participants are, Able-Bodied Seaman, Kadeem Henry; Ordinary Seaman, Shane Fraser; Litonya John; Cody Laidlow; Lesron Pope; Jesse-Lee Porter; Julae Stephenson; and Taye Williams (Coast Guard Auxiliaries); Ashad Ashton; Shaquana Grant; Keadon Hackshaw; Keswin Mc Fee and Israel Roberts. Delivering brief remarks at the closing ceremony, Sub-Lieutenant Gordon Charles, the course officer, lauded the training and the senior leadership at the Coast Guard Service. He said the Coast Guard continuously conducts professional development training programmes in various fields, including but not limited to, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Basic Coxswain, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, and Boatswain mate. He explained that these programmes are done through a partnership with the Regional Security Systems (RSS), Trinidad and Tobago; the United States of America; and locally by instructors at the Coast Guard Service.

“We are satisfied that training opportunities are consistently conducted annually and are made available to all ranks of the Coast Guard Service. Internally, each department is expected to conduct weekly training sessions to keep abreast of the progressive environment in which we operate,” said Charles.

He concluded his remarks by thanking the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard, Commander (Ag), Deon Henry, and his senior executive team for recognizing, appreciating, organizing, and supporting the thrust in continuous professional development for members of the Coast Guard Service.

Chief course Instructor Chief Petty Officer, Daniel Foyle gave an overview of the programme. He said the Coast Guard Service is committed to ongoing professional development for its officers which ultimately builds the productive capacity of the organization’s personnel. The intensive course commenced on Monday, August 12, 2024, and concluded on Friday, August 23, 2024, and featured lectures and practical sessions on several topics.

The chief instructor reported that the overall performance average of the course was 82.5 per cent, while Litonya John, the most outstanding, averaged 87.1 per cent. He thanked his fellow instructors for their dedication and skills displayed during the programme and for the knowledge that they transferred to the officers.

Lieutenant (Lt.) William Theobalds, head of the Engineering Department at the Coast Guard Service, Training Officer, and Commandant of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Training School also addressed the participants.

He told the officers that the training did not only equip them with a foundational understanding of engineering principles, but also fostered their growth as future leaders who are capable of navigating intricate systems and helps them to develop a deeper understanding of the engineering principles that are critical to their daily duties.

Acting Coast Guard Commander, Henry explained the strategic reasons for the training programme, noting that he and his executive team recognized there was a deficiency within the engineering department which “threatened the efficient and effective functioning of the Coast Guard Service.” The two week programme of training was one of the initiatives undertaken to train officers and build capacity within the department, the Acting Commander explained.

“We at the Coast Guard are constantly seeking other sources of technical training in the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Regional Security System (RSS), and local sources,” said the Acting Commander as he cautioned the officers not to slight the training that is done locally.