Cadet programme to boost ranks of uniformed services
A cadet training programme for young people will prepare them for careers in the island’s uniformed services, it was announced in the Throne Speech.
It is hoped the move will boost employee numbers in a sector that has struggled in recent years to fill posts.
The Bermuda Police Service was given permission this year to open up recruitment to non-Bermudians living on the island to help widen the pool of potential applicants.
A team of Canadian firefighters was drafted in to ensure safe staffing levels at the LF Wade International Airport until Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service recruits completed training to provide the cover.
MPs heard in July that there were “approximately 15 vacancies in the structural division of the fire service” outside of the airport cohort at that time.
Reading the Throne Speech on behalf of the Government, Rena Lalgie, the Governor, said: “To address the human resource issues identified within our uniformed services and to ensure that more Bermudians are able to enter our uniformed services, the Ministry of National Security, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, will implement a Uniformed Services Cadet Training Programme, providing foundational training for young women and men of school age, preparing them for careers in Bermuda’s uniformed services.”
In a Facebook post, the BPS said the remarks were among the “highlights” of this year’s speech.
A post on the Bermuda Police Service Facebook page explained: “Continuing the tradition this year, Inspector Kuhn Evans performed the duty of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, commonly known as ’The Black Rod’.
“The origin of the Black Rod, who was formally appointed by the Crown, goes back to early 14th-century England.
“Today, with no royal duties to perform, a senior officer of the Bermuda Police Service is selected to perform the duty of the Black Rod, for the Convening of the Legislature (Parliament).
“Traditionally, the Governor [at present Her Excellency Ms Rena Lalgie] would order the Black Rod to attend the House of Assembly and summon the Members of Parliament to attend the Throne Speech.
“As part of the ritual, the Black Rod walks a slow pace from the Cabinet Grounds up the stairs to the House of Assembly, where the rod is used to bang on the door, alerting the members that Black Rod is there.
“The door will be opened by the Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Governor’s message is delivered.
“The door is then slammed in the face of the Black Rod, and after a few minutes, the door reopens and the Black Rod leads the MPs from the House on to the Cabinet Grounds.”
It added: “Inspector Kuhn Evans began his career with the Bermuda Police Service as a Cadet on August 3, 1987, becoming a constable on September 2, 1989.
“On February 23, 2001, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and on January 11, 2011, he was promoted to the rank of inspector.
“He has received a Commissioner's Commendation and six Letters of Good Work, as well as a Letter of Appreciation.
“He is the eldest of three brothers and has three children.
“Currently, Inspector Evans serves as the second-in-command at Southside Police Station, which has patrol responsibility for the eastern parishes.”
Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons told The Royal Gazette in April that of more than 100 applicants who entered a recruitment process, only nine were selected then to take part in a training course.
He added that people were filtered out as health assessments, fitness tests and psychological screening took place.
A call for candidates to become constables in May noted that applicants could be Bermudian, the spouse of a Bermudian or a resident non-Bermudian.
Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, told the House of Assembly in July that 24 recruit firefighters would take part in Britain-based aircraft rescue training from August 5, marking “the last phase of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service’s emergency plan to rapidly expand and build the extra workforce capacity required to meet the new minimum staffing levels mandated by the Aerodrome Regulators”.
At the time there were 16 overseas firefighters, who would be replaced when the newly-trained crews could take over.
Requirements for airport staffing that came into force last year meant extra firefighters had to be brought to the island to keep the airport running without interruption.
Mr Weeks explained in July: “Not all jurisdictions hire raw recruits and train them for the fire service.
“Some will only hire trained and qualified firefighters. Bermuda, however, hires raw recruits and trains them to be firefighters.
“It typically takes 24 weeks for the foundation training and then there is further specialist training.”
He added then: “Now that we have got the airport service sorted out, we will be looking at having another recruitment drive.”
• To read the Throne Speech in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”.
Need to
Know
2. Please respect the use of this community forum and its users.
3. Any poster that insults, threatens or verbally abuses another member, uses defamatory language, or deliberately disrupts discussions will be banned.
4. Users who violate the Terms of Service or any commenting rules will be banned.
5. Please stay on topic. "Trolling" to incite emotional responses and disrupt conversations will be deleted.
6. To understand further what is and isn't allowed and the actions we may take, please read our Terms of Service
