WANTED: A FEW GOOD MEN

THE BARBADOS COAST GUARD needs 60 good men and women to join its
ranks next year.

Lieutenant Commander Ricky Shurland said yesterday after the
commissioning of the new patrol vessel, the Rudyard Lewis, at the
HMBS Pelican headquarters on Spring Garden, that the drive would
start from April 1.

"We need able-bodied, fit men and women. We need people with
engineering skills, also with skills in electronics and electrical,
those with experience at sea and who have a sense of adventure. Those
who want to sail the Caribbean sea," he said in an interview
afterwards with the DAILY NATION.

Shurland also said that retention of members was "very good" and they
had a staff of more than 100.

He added that another recruitment drive would be held later next year
for another 60 people.

It was during a short ceremony to commission the patrol vessel that
sailed from Holland that Attorney-General Dale Marshall made the
initial disclosure about the additional staff.

He said that the Coast Guard had "nobly and bravely" assisted the
police force in the fight against illegal drugs with its limited resources and

said that the new Holland-made vessel "represented a significant leap
forward for Barbados".

Additionally, Marshall said: "We're sure that our investment in this
kind of plant [headquarters] would be significantly utilised as well
when we considered that we had agreed to add a further 60 individuals
to complement the ranks of the Coast Guard.

"This Government has made a concerted effort to secure our borders,
to ensure that we are successful in our fight against crime, illegal
drugs and drug trafficking and also especially in ensuring the
welfare and continued comfort and safety of the members of the
Barbados Coast Guard," Marshall added.