TORONTO, Canada –His Excellency V. Alfred Gray, Bahama High Commissioner to Canada, on Friday, April 4, 2023, travelled to Toronto to address the Graduation of Firefighters of the Airport Authority’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Division and the Freeport Airport Development Company, comprising the first group of Bahamians to participate in such a training exercise overseas.
In his remarks, High Commissioner Gray thanked Ms. Maureen Allen, Director at Allen & Co, coordinator of the training initiative, as well the Government of The Bahamas, particularly The Bahamas Airport Authority and the Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute.
“I consider it an absolute pleasure for me to participate in today’s graduation ceremony marking the completion of what I am sure must have been a difficult but rewarding experience for all of you,” Mr. Gray said. “To you the 15 Bahamian graduates, you represent The Bahamas’ finest recruit of Firefighters of the Airport Authority’s Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Division and the Freeport Airport Development Company, whom I am understand make up the first group of Bahamians to participate in such a training exercise overseas.”He also thanked “the organizers in Canada and the Chairman of the Airport Authority in The Bahamas for the kind and gracious invitation for me to be here today.”
High Commissioner Gray added, “I’d like to extend the appreciation of The Bahamas Government, particularly The Bahamas Airport Authority, to Allen & Co. and the Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute, whose support and collaboration made this all possible.
“In fact today, we bear witness to the benefits arising from the good relationship which have been established between The Bahamas and Canada over 50 years ago.
“We have in The Bahamas some 28 airports and so you The Bahamas’ first graduates will have the responsibility of becoming blended trainers for most of our Family Islands Airport Firefighters. I feel sure that you are up to the task when called upon to do so. The Bahamas is a developing country and you the graduates would be the face of The Bahamas to our future Firefighters and so I beg you to continue to be the best in what you do”
Mr. Gray noted that the only female among the graduates was Ms. Sherilyn Deveaux, “whom I am told stood shoulder to shoulder with the other 14 of you. That singular achievement must surely serve as an inspiration to other ladies who may before now might that firefighting was only found in a man’s world. Congratulations Ms. Deveaux.”.
“As the curtain closes on this event, I salute Mr. Samuel Clarke your Supervisor, Mr. Peter Rutherford, Ms. Glenda McKenzie, and your Chairman Mr. Paul Bevans for blazing this trail and for making The Bahamas Government proud of the sacrifices it would have made to ensure that you received the best training available in airport firefighting. Again, I congratulate each of you on behalf of the Government and people of The Bahamas and I wish you God’s speed,” Mr. Gray said.
