After undergoing rigorous training for six months, the Fire Service’s newest firefighters received a warm welcome into the service at their graduation at Agape Family Worship Centre recently.

The one woman and 11 men were also encouraged to give their individual best to a challenging career so that they could function as valued members of a service that essentially functions as one team.

Receiving their graduation certificates from Chief Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Eric Bush, JP, were: Ms Jessica Richards; Mr. Marvin Beccerra-Menendez; Mr. Alejandro Conolly, Mr. Christopher Jackson, Mr. Brandon Myrie, Mr. Jon-Mikol Rankin, Mr. Tyler Scott, Mr. David Terry, Mr. Josh Terry, Mr. Robert Watler, Mr. Andrew Welds and Mr. Tafari Young.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, MBE, JP, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs, led his ministry team in attendance at the graduation on Friday, 30 October 2015.

Top prize winners received their awards from the Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson, Cert. Hon., JP. They were heartily lauded by all present, especially their fellow firefighters.

Valedictorian Josh Terry walked away with the top prize for academics with a 98% performance. Mr. Robert Watler and Christopher Jackson both received most improved academic awards where they were both tied with 95% average. Mr. Andrew Welds won an award for work ethic as well as academics. “Mr. Welds was always the first to arrive for class and always the first start work. He also had an average of 92%,” recalled Chief Trainer Mr. Duane Tibbetts, who noted the high calibre of performance of all the recruits.

Exhorting all of them, Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer – Domestic Tina Choy, who spoke on behalf of the Acting Chief Fire Officer Ronnie Dixon, reminded them that their journey is a unique one with few others even having the chance or the ability to take. In addition to top class fire service training, they were also expected to have “respect for others, compassion, honesty, courage, attention to duty and adherence to law, policy and procedure.”

Advising them that challenges were rife in their chosen path, she said, “Take it all in and look for the challenge that fires you up. Whatever (the) challenge, look for the opportunities to get there and prepare yourself.”

Replying, Mr. Josh Terry urged his fellow graduates to continue giving their best to the service and keep up their learning and contribute positively to the high level of performance in the Fire Service.

Lead trainers Mr. Marlon Goddard, Mr. Carson McField, Mr. Elbert McField, Mr. Vince McElroy, Mr. Randy Hudson and Mr. Glenroy Logan received tokens of appreciation from the recruits for providing the training and eliciting their best performances. In addition special thanks were issued to Mr. Duane Tibbetts, Mr. Joseph Thompson and Mr. John Christian as leaders of the training team.

Proposing the vote of thanks, Mr. Jon Mikol Rankin also reminisced about the tough times and the fun moments the recruits faced during the six-month training.

Photo Captions Photo by Bina Mani:

1. Graduates who received certificates to qualify as the Fire Service’s latest firefighters are: seated l-r: Tafari Young, Marvin Menendez, Christopher Jackson, Tyler Scott, Jessica Richards and Andrew Welds; standing l-r: Alejandro Connolly, David Terry, Robert Watler Jr., Josh Terry, Jon-Mikol Rankin and Brandon Myrie.
2. Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson (seated, centre); with Ministry of Home Affairs officials and Fire Service graduates
3. Valedictorian and top academics prize winner Josh Terry receives the trophy from Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson
4. A lead trainer Mr. Duane Tibbetts receives a token of appreciation from the Deputy Governor.