Children from Busybody Play School will first be treated to a tour of the terminal building, after which RFF personnel will take the children on a tour of the RFF facility. Following the tour, the firefighters will offer the children a special BBQ at the fire station.
Physical fitness is a requirement for firefighters and to “test” their level of fitness, there will be a Fireman’s Obstacle Course. The firefighters will be competing among themselves to see who can complete the obstacle course in the best time. Following the friendly competition there will be a breakfast for staff and the airport community.
The week will close off with perhaps the most anticipated activity: the Fireman’s Certification and Ranking Ceremony at which SXM firefighters will receive their insignia, as SXM officially transitions from the Dutch to the American ranking system. All firefighters who recently completed a 14-week training course, including four weeks of practical training and examinations in Canada, will receive their official Pro-Board seal certificates.
It will be recalled that a group of six SXM firefighters returned a few weeks ago from Canada, after successfully completing the National Fire Protection Association 1001 Fire Fighter levels 1 & 2 course. It is the third group to undergo such training, bringing the total so far to 18.
According to Mr. Penijn, Manager of SXM’s RFF, more training courses are planned for the staff in order to further equip them to discharge their responsibilities professionally.
“We have been sending groups of six and this is our third group,” he said, adding that new recruits as well as senior officers are given the opportunity to undergo training.
“This allows SXM to have certified and well-trained firemen. It is also important for growth possibilities within the department for the individual firemen,” Penijn said.