Plans afoot to include foreign participation in 2018
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONCE again spectators were treated to a scintillating display of precision drills as members of six of the Federation’s security agencies battled for supremacy at the Annual Independence Drill Competition.
The event, which was held on the Bay Road in Basseterre opposite Ram’s Supermarket on Friday evening (Oct. 13), saw the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) being adjudged winner of both categories of the competition – Individual and Team.
The other participating agencies were the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF), Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP), St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services (SKNFRS), St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) and the Cadet Corps.
Absent was defending champion Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department (HMCED).
Each agency had presented two representatives who performed a series of precision movements under the watchful eyes of a three-member judging panel.
However, it was Constable Delroy Belle of the RSCNPF who took the top prize in the Individual Category, beating out his colleague Constable Tarique Jones into second place and Randy Whyte of HMP into third spot.
A hard fought battle emerged in the Team Category, but Constables Belle and Jones pulled out all stops to edge out the contestants from SCASPA by one point – 94-93, while the SKNDF tallied 90 points for the third spot.
This is the second time in the five-year history of the competition that the RSCNPF had emerged champion.
The inaugural competition was held On Thursday, September 19, 2013 at the same venue, which saw Customs Officer Kajali Gumbs taking the top spot in the Individual Category, Jamal Wyatt of the SKNDF placed second, and Police Recruit Akeem Hendrickson and Customs Officer Sherima Stanley tied for third place.
There was a similar result in the Team Category.
The SKNDF members Jamal Wyatt and Keshona Matthew placed third, Police Recruits Maaisha Liburd and Akeem Hendrickson were second, while the Customs team of Stanley and Gumbs emerged winners.
Commenting on Friday evening’s event, Captain Nigel Williams of the Department of Culture, who is the Chairperson of the Independence Drill Committee, told SKNVibes that despite the disruption and effects of the two hurricanes, they were pleased to have hosted the competition which has lived up to expectations.
“It still lived up to its standard that we have come to expect, and we are very proud of it. I can tell you that we are looking forward to next year when we would be celebrating our 35th Independence Anniversary.”
He disclosed that for next year, the event would see the inclusion of overseas participation which would bring added flavour to the much anticipated activity.
The overseas participants would include youth organizations and regional forces, Williams explained.
“We are going into independence for 35 years and we are happy and want to celebrate with our friends and partners…because no many is an island by himself, and if we can rally with friends we will be stronger.”
Comparing this year’s competition with that of 2016, Captain Williams noted that the standard was equally high as they would have seen in the past.
Williams stated that it was disappointing to see that the defending champion, Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Department, was unable to participate.
He however explained that there were a number of reasons for the agency’s non-participation, reasons including prior travel commitments and the time in which the competition was staged.
