BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – REPRESENTATIVES from the US Naval Ship Comfort wrapped up their time in the Federation with a simulation exercise with local emergency management personnel.
A large crowd gathered Friday (Oct. 11) on the Bay Front to witness the three training exercises that culminated with a water rescue.
Taking a break to speak with the media, Coast Guard Captain Kenish Garnett explained that the training wrapped three days of Subject Matter Expert that representative from the National Emergency Management Agency, the Defence Force, Fire and Rescue undertook with officials of the Navy.
“It culminated with three demonstrations; one from field operations from the US Naval Ship, one from the Coast Guard with a maritime search and rescue, and one from the shore side with the Red Cross and Fire and Rescue for a surface rescue.”
The US Naval vessel was in the Federation for one week to provide training and health care to those in need.
Captain Garnett noted that the training undertaken by personnel is part of an ongoing exercise by the agencies to be better prepared for any event.
“It’s an ongoing process as it helps to test the interagency operability between each functioning agency.”
Against that backdrop, he noted that coming out of the training, the Coast Guard would be using the experience to develop a professional training policy for members of the law enforcement unit.
US Navy Lieutenant Commander John Rasap revealed that a total of eight local agencies had participated in the three-day training and noted that all of the agencies are “closely knit and interrelated”.
“What results from that is a quick response to a disaster or an emergency,” he added.
Commenting on the aspect of disaster preparedness, the Navy official stated that the agencies tasked with that responsibility have been very much prepared.
“Every agency that we worked with was professional and forward leaning, and was very excited to learn and exchange information. So it was a really good engagement that we had this week that was rich with content and material for lesson learnt.”
