By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2024 — The Office of the Prime Minister shared a collection of photos on Facebook today originally posted by The Bahamas National Youth Guard. I absolutely had to share some of them and the accompanying narrative with readers of my online publication, BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean. The 14 photos were posted with the following narrative:
“NYG Cadets Fired Up After 3 Day Training”
Over a 3 day period , 63 cadets of The National Youth Guard (NYG) program underwent practical firefighting training, a visit to The Red Cross headquarters to provide community service, and attended a church service at Ebenezer Mission Baptist Evangelistical Church.
In an effort to equip young Bahamians for disaster preparedness and community service, Chief Petty Officer Kelsey Missick led the 3 day program while highlighting important objectives like ; a sense of duty, discipline, and civic responsibility among the participants. The National Youth Program is currently within its 3rd Cohort, and cadets range in age from 18 to 24.
BAHAMAS CHRONICLE EDITOR’S NOTE: Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario K.. Bowleg announced the launch of the National Youth Guard in October of 2023 to give young Bahamians skills needed to assist during future disasters or emergencies, specifically pointing out the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian, a deadly Category 5 storm, on Abaco and Grand Bahama in May of 2019.
Mr. Bowleg said the administration of Prime Minister Philip E. Davis, which became the government in September of 2021, saw the destruction and The Bahamas’ shortfall in preparedness and readiness for such disasters and decided to act.
“The Bahamas National Youth Guard program is designed to teach young people the skills needed to assist this nation during a disaster or an emergency,” Mr. Bowleg said at the launch of the program. “Dorian was an eye-opening experience, but this government did not just take what we saw and forget about it. We have the vision and fortitude to establish a groundbreaking program such as this.”
SOURCE: The Nassau Guardian
