BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FRIDAY night (Jan 9) was spent outside the confines of the fire stations and the signature coveralls were abandoned, if but for one night, for jackets, ties and evening gowns.
It was an event designed in honour of fire officers of the St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services and to pay homage to them for their hard work and dedication throughout the past year.
As part of the 15-year anniversary activities of the Service as an independent organisation, the black tie affair was held at Sweet Lime on Port Zante where a sumptuous meal was prepared for officers, other staff members, their significant others and relatives and invited guests.
The Awards Dinner was held under the auspices of the Governor General His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence and among those in attendance were: Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas; Taiwanese Ambassador His Excellency Miguel Tsao and wife Isabel; Minister of Homeland Security Hon. Patrice Nisbett, under whose purview the Service falls.
The event saw close to 30 officers being awarded for their performance, one of whom was named FOY “Fireman of the Year”.
Those awarded for giving 15 years Service to the organisation were Fire Station Officer (FSO) Abdias Samuel, FSO Ronnie Frame, FSO Timothy Martin, FSO Davion Clarke, FSO (Ag) Pablo Gumbs, FSO (Ag) Santos Caines, Fire Officer (FO) Kurt Edwards, Woman Fire Officer (WFO) Fiona Halliday, FO Dwayne Williams, FO Ericson Isaac, and FO Kyle Burke.
Long Service Awards were distributed to Woman Fire Sub-Station Officer Mavis Archibald, FSO Dwight Alexander, FSO Lesroy St. Claire, FO Julian Pemberton, FO Kenneth Dore, FO Vaughan Ward, FO Hugh Jennings, FO Cecil Grant, WFO Lornette Claxton, WFO Melsadous Jackson, WFO Marsha Pope and WFO Frances Madir.
Special Awards were given to FSSO Rommel Williams, FSSO Elvis Isaac, FSSO Caines, FO Ward, and FO Julio Williams.
The Fireman of the Year Award went to FSO Martin, who told SKNVibes it was a moment of humility by the fact that his peers saw him as being deserving of the accolade.
“I wasn’t expecting it! I just do what I have to do when it comes to work. It was a very humbling moment for me to know that my peers see me as being worthy of such an award. I just want to thank all the officers who believe in me and have that faith in me that I am deserving of such.”
Congratulations were in order and, in extending his, Prime Minister Douglas said the Service had made significant strides since it was separated from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force in 2000.
He spoke to the modernisation of the Department, the training of its personnel, which he noted had allowed them to improve on the quality of their work, and congratulated the officers for their sterling effort.
And Fire Chief Everette O’Garro told the awardees that they “must feel proud that you have worked hard and are rightfully deserving…congratulations”.
