About 20 Fire Service officers were certified after receiving a two-week intensive training on First Aid, CPR, rescue and beach safety management from the British Life Guards Society of Wales UK, headed by Mr Cliff Nelson. At the end of the training, four fire officers were identified as trainers.

Speaking at the end of the training at the Bakau Sea Rescue Station, Mr Roger Bakurin, Chief Fire Officer of The Gambia, congratulated the men for having successfully completed the intensive training on life guards.

He expressed delight that the training would boost-up the morale, skills and experience of the fire officers.

Chief Fire Officer, Bakurin urged the officers to put into practice whatever they had learnt and also teach others.

“There is need to standardise and do things in the right way,” he said

Bakurin finally thanked Mr Cliff Nelson and his team for providing such an important training for a national institution, like the Fire Service.

Mr Cliff Nelson, Head of the Life Guard Trainers Team from UK, said the certificates are important in recognition of the officers hard work and tremendous achievement.

He assured them of his team’s support and looked forward to a twinning partnership. Mr Nelson also presented some first aid materials to the fire officers. The ceremony was attended by senior fire officers.