BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – HUNDREDS of spectators were on Friday afternoon (Sept. 25) treated to a scintillating display of precision foot drills, which saw members of the Customs and Excise Department carting off the winners’ trophies for both the Individual and Group categories of this year’s National Arts Festival Drill Competition.
The competition, which began in 2013, has since become an annual fixture on the calendar of events to mark the Independence Anniversary of the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The much-anticipated event was held on the Bay Road in the vicinity of RAM’s Supermarket, where 16 individuals, drawn from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services, St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority, St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, Her Majesty’s Prison, Customs and Excise Department and the Cadet Corps, vied for supremacy in the Individual and Group categories.
Under the watchful eyes of Chief Judge Major (Ret.) Cornell Kelly, who was ably assisted by Superintendent Lionel Moore, Warrant Officer Class One Samuel Tuckett and Peter Jenkins, the competition began with the contestants going through the inspection phase in which they were judged on their Turnout.
Divided into four groups, the contestants were further judged by their reaction to words of command given by Sergeant Henderson of the Defence Force.
The words of command had required them to march in slow and quick time, left and right salutes at the halt and also on the march, and turnings at the halt as well as on the march, among others.
In what could be termed a close contest, Customs and Excise Department was declared winner of the Group category with a total of 188.66 points, while the Defence Force placed First Runner-up with 184.33 and SCASPA took the Second Runner-up position with 183.33 points.
With that victory, Customs and Excise Department had dethroned last year’s winner, the RSCNPF, which failed as a group to make a significant impression not only on the judges, but also the spectators.
Unlike some competitions witnessed in the past, most, if not all, of the spectators were in agreement with the judges’ decision as they displayed their approval of the winner with loud cheers and the symbolic clapping of hands.
Commenting in favour of Customs, one spectator was heard saying: “Customs was cheated last year but they show them this year that they are the best. And they even beat the Defence Force who trained them.”
Also a close contest, the Individual category was won by the Customs and Excise Department through the excellent display of drills by Darrius Bedford who tallied 95.33 points. He was followed by his teammate Glenroy Phillip with 93.33 points.
Defending champion Andre Hanley of the Defence Force Band had to settle for the third position along with Akeem Hendrickson of the Police Force, and Jamal Wyatt of SCASPA, who were tied on 92.33 points.
Each contestant was presented a plaque for their participation, while the winners and Runners-up were given trophies. The presentations were made by Ambassador and Special Envoy in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, His Excellency Jonel Powell, who was on hand to witness the competition.
Following the inaugural competition in 2013, Captain Williams, who is also the Music Specialist at the Department of Culture, said that drills are extremely valuable to organisations, particularly those involved in security and public safety operations. He cited increased discipline as a major benefit and explained that it would impact personal and professional development.
This year’s competition, like previous years, was not only crowd-pleasing but it lived up to the global aim of drills, which, from a military perspective, is to produce a soldier who is proud, alert and obedient; and by extension, it is the basis of teamwork.
