Tevyn Walcott Selected The Barbados Pride Senior Team

BDF Media Release| 3 Jan 20

Photography credit: Kenmore Bynoe | Bynoe Photography

The Barbados Defence Force proudly congratulates Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme Cricketer, Pioneer Tevyn Walcott on his selection to the Barbados Pride Senior Team. Walcott secured his place in the team after amassing a score of 175 runs during the trial games held recently at the Kensington Oval. The Barbados Pride Senior Team, captained by Mr Kraigg Brathwaite, will compete in the Regional 4-Day series against the Windward Islands at the Arnos Vale Pavilion, St. Vincent.
Pioneer (Pnr) Walcott, enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP) in 2014 and credits the Force for his mental, academic and physical development, as he continues to strive for excellence in his sporting and professional endeavors. Walcott went on to further express gratitude to his mentor and BDF SP cricket coach, Mr Alvin Greenidge, for encouraging him to join the programme and his consistent attention to his cricketing skills and development.
During the 2019 season, Walcott amassed 4 centuries and received the coveted Jeffrey Dujon award for the Best Overall Wicket Keeper. He has attributed his cricketing success while in the BDFSP to the structure of the programme which includes 4-hour coaching sessions rather than the 2-hour system found in local cricket clubs.
Walcott stated that he will continue to play cricket to the best of his ability to bring glory not only to the BDFSP and the BDF by extension, but also to Barbados and hopefully one day the West Indies. Walcott intends to enlist in the Officer Corps of the Barbados Defence Force at the completion of his cricketing career.

Highlights

Gold for Culinary Arts Team

Featured News, News & Updates, Stories

Gold for Culinary Arts Team

BDF Media Release| 30 Nov 19

Photography credit: Corporal Maynard D

The Barbados Cadet Corps Culinary Arts team were overwhelmingly successful at this year’s National Cultural Foundation (NCF) NIFCA Culinary Arts competition. The eight-member team ranging from ages 12 – 14 were trained by Lieutenant Natalie Haynes in 1-month receiving 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze award. They were awarded gold for Best Lamb Seasoning, silver for their Tamarind Sauce, Mango Pepper Sauce and Tamarind Pepper Sauce and bronze for the creation of a mango passion custard.

The team comprising of Ethan Straughn, Chemar Holder, Dominic Blaze, Kyshawna Felix, Prince Conroy, Tanisha Knight, Nadeisha Brathwaite and Davian Holder, won the Barbados Diabetic award for their Diabetic Coconut Bread, made from Stevia extract and boasted zero calories.

The new chefs completed their winning streak when they captured the coveted Barbados Hotel Foods award by defeating the chefs from St Ann’s Fort and HMBS PELICAN in the highly competitive Combat Cooking Challenge.

Highlights

Bronze Medal for BDF

Featured News, News & Updates, Stories

Bronze Medal for BDF

BDF Media Release| 30 Oct 19

Photography credit: Corporal Maynard D

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) hosted a Press Conference in recognition of its successes at the 7th International Military Sports Council (CISM) Games held this year in Wuhan China. During the Games, Private Kimberley Gittens won a bronze medal in the first ever installation of Boxing into the Games. Her BDF colleague, Recruit Sade Sealy, while performing out of her track and field season, placed fourth in the Women’s 800 Metre final.

The BDF’s participation and successes at the CISM Games are as a result of the contributions from its many stakeholders, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and various sporting associations. Unquestionably, the discipline, desire and determination of the athletes themselves to put “Barbados on the map” is most praiseworthy and encouraging.

As a modernizing, multi-dimensional military organization, the BDF has gained some experience as a conduit for producing world-class athletes throughout its history. The BDF will nevertheless strive to make even greater contributions to the sporting landscape of Barbados.

Founded in 1948, CISM is one of the largest multidisciplinary organizations in the world. CISM organises various sporting events for the Armed Forces of its 136 member countries and is one of the global sports organizations in which the largest number of disciplines is represented. Servicepersons from across the globe, who may have previously met on the battlefield, now meet in friendship through sports (CISM’s motto).

Highlights

Sea Cadets Join ISCA

Featured News, News & Updates, Stories

Sea Cadets Join ISCA

BDF Media Release| 25 Oct 19

Photography credit: BDF Media

The Barbados Cadet Corps (BCC) Sea Cadet Corps application to the International Sea Cadet Association (ISCA) was unanimously accepted this month in Sweden following its presentation by Cadet Executive Officer Major Pedro Drakes and the Training Officer of the Sea Cadets Sub-Lieutenant Wayne Beckles. The BCC Sea Cadet Unit joins 20 other countries around the world as a member of the association.

The International Sea Cadet Association (ISCA) is a voluntary association of independent Sea Cadet Corps or similar organizations who are committed to common concepts and goals, information training and benefits of engaging in cadet exchanges. This provides mutual support for the promotion of sea cadet training world-wide.
The ISCA aims at encouraging young people towards high personal standards, teamwork and a sense of responsibility to the community through the medium of disciplined nautical training and development of leadership qualities. Additionally, it further aims at developing young minds to have an appreciation of the importance of the sea to international commerce, defence and the protection of the environment.

Highlights

Grenada Day 36th Anniversary

Featured News, News & Updates, Stories

Grenada Day 36^th Anniversary

BDF Media Release| 25 Oct 19

Photography credit: Corporal Maynard D

The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) recognizes the 36^th Anniversary of Operation Urgent (OUF) Fury. The BDF was a member of the multinational intervention operation initiated from Barbados, to restore democracy in Grenada on the 25^th of October 1983.

The 1983 OUF personnel, since awarded the Regional Security System medal, were amongst the first set of troops to land at the Point Salines Airport (now the Maurice Bishop International Airport) to aid in the security efforts

BDF Field Medical Facility Type 1 Verified

Featured News, News & Updates, Stories

BDF Field Medical Facility Type 1 Verified

BDF Media Release| 26 Sept 19

Photography credit: BDF Media

The Barbados Defence Force Field Medical Facility (BDF FMF) has attained Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Type 1 certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) verification team.

The verification and assessment visit was conducted over the period 25 – 26 September 2019. The BDF FMF components were assessed based on the EMT Medical Team Global Standards and included reviews of its administration, personnel, logistical and medical requirements needed to be self-sufficient for deployments up to two weeks.

Given the BDF’s experience responding to sudden onset disasters, conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations locally and regionally and, the necessity for medical services surge capacity due to the evolving complexity of the contemporary operations environment, the project to develop the FMF was conceptualized in late 2017.

To this end, after engagement with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and in consultation with Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’ d) Florence Gittens, the project to establish a Field Medical Facility that would meet the World Health Organization Emergency Medical Team standards. The development of the Field Medical Facility serves to strengthen Barbados’ disaster response mechanism, specifically in the area of the provision of health services and also strengthens the regional response mechanism activated through the RSS.

The BDF intends to develop a Type 2 EMT which would see the inclusion of an operating theater, X-ray and lab facilities, and in-patient wards. This Type 2 facility would be operational on a 24-hour basis.