Renaming of the BDF Medical Facility
LOOP NEWS
NOVEMBER 29, 2017
Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), Colonel Glynne Grannum, is hopeful that their refurbished medical facility will be able to answer the call to mass causalities.
Expressing appreciation during the renaming of the facility in honour of Lieutenant Colonel Florence Gittens, he said one of his visions is for a more resuscitated and expanded role capability for the health services platoon of the BDF, in the field of mass causality and disaster response:
Lt Col Florence Gittens receiving the salute at the renaming ceremony. (D. Maynard/BDF)
“The ravages wrought upon our Caribbean neighbours by hurricanes this year and the potential concern for seismic events and other mass causality causing public health events, demand that we can deploy a mobile, quick response field hospital as all modern military forces do.”
The purpose and value of the BDF’s medical facility he stressed, is to provide for the health and welfare of members of the military, which he added is essential to keeping all ranks fit to function by day, night and regardless of season, weather or terrain.
Opened on March 6, 1982, Colonel Grannum said the mission of the health services provided is to fix the nation’s service men and women when they are broken, provide rehabilitative treatment and return them to the proverbial frontlines in the shortest possible time.
The unveiling of the plaque. (D. Maynard/BDF)
Colonel Glynne Grannum further stated that they are proud to have expanded the range of services provides over the 38 years of the existence of the BFD.
“The range now includes expanded physiotherapy and renovated dental facilities in addition to the well-known hyperbaric medicine and admission ward bed space capabilities,” he explained.
The renaming is for him fitting and necessary given the sterling service of Lieutenant Colonel Florence Gittens to Barbados through and outside of the BDF. Not only has she had a successful military career he noted, but her contribution spans a period of over 40 years and includes the training of military and civilian health care professionals who have applied their skills across the globe.
Commodore (Cdre) Errington Shurland enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force in February 1984.
Colonel Glyne Grannum joined the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) on 18 October 1985 and underwent career development training at the Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School, Chilliwack and the Combat Training Centre, Gagetown New Brunswick, Canada. He subsequently attended the Infantry Training Centre and the Signal Wing in Warminster, UK (PCBC and RSO Courses respectively), the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo, Italy; the Lester Pearson Canadian Peacekeeping Centre, the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, Kingston, the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, Toronto, the National Defence University of the People’s Liberation Army People’s Republic of China and the Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies, National Defence University, Washington. He also attended a Defence Resources Management programme at National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, Canada. In addition to being a qualified infantry officer, Col Grannum is a qualified Regimental Signals Officer and a former Operations Officer and Finance Officer of the BDF.
Colonel Banfield joined the Barbados Battalion of the South Caribbean Force in 1941 having just left the Cadet Corps at Combermere School, and was granted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1942. He was a Platoon Commander and a Company Commander during the war and served in Barbados, Dominica (as part of the Gale Force), St Lucia and St Vincent.
Warrant Officer Class 1 Colin Marshall is a graduate of the St Michael, and was born on the 5 November 1969 and enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force on 16 August 1994. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in August 1997, Corporal in 1999, Sergeant in 2007, Color Sergeant in 2014, Warrant Officer Class Two in 2017 and Warrant Officer Class One in 2020. He was Most Outstanding Student on Junior Leadership Course in 1998, the Most Outstanding Student on Junior Non Commissioned Officer Cadre in Jamaica in 2000, best at Leadership on the Search Adviser Course in Jamaica in 2007 and the Most Outstanding Student on the Warrant Officer Course in Jamaica in 2015.
