After months of intensive training, 55 of the island’s newest firefighters and correctional officers have officially entered public service, with senior officials praising their dedication while warning them against the dangers of corruption and complacency.
The recruits graduated during a joint passing-out ceremony held at the Mindoo Philip Park on the afternoon of June 12. It marked the completion of what officials described as a historic training programme involving both the Saint Lucia Fire Service and the Bordelais Correctional Facility.
Chief Fire Officer Ditney Downes told graduates that the occasion represented far more than the end of a training programme.
“This graduation is more than a ceremony, it is a testament of resilience, discipline and the power of service,” Downes said.
He noted that recruits had endured “long hours of drills, demanding physical exercises and rigorous classroom instructions” and had been tested “not only in skills but also in character.”
“Today you stand ready to serve with integrity, competence and compassion,” he said.
Addressing the firefighter recruits, Downes described firefighting as “a noble tradition” and stressed that it was “not simply a career, it is a calling.”
“It demands bravery in the face of danger, clarity in moments of chaos and an unwavering commitment to the safety of our communities,” he said.
He also highlighted the important role correctional officers play in rehabilitation and public safety.
“The facility is more than a place of custody. It is an institution of rehabilitation, accountability and hope,” Downes said. “As new officers, you are entrusted with a responsibility that extends beyond maintaining order. You are guardians of safety, mentors of discipline and facilitators of change.”
Acting Director of Corrections Chris Felix described the graduation as a milestone for the correctional service, noting that it marked the first joint recruitment training programme conducted with the Saint Lucia Fire Service.
“Today, your graduation, your training mark a historic moment in the correctional service,” Felix said.
He explained that the officers were graduating not only as correctional officers but also as certified Emergency Medical Technicians.
“Your role is unique. You stand at this intersection of security and humanity. You maintain order but you also offer hope. You enforce rules but you also have model respect. You protect the public. You also help individuals rebuild their lives.”
Felix reminded graduates that their daily responsibilities contribute directly to national security and community stability.
“Every shift you work, every inmate you supervise, every report you write contributes to the safety of our nation and the stability of our communities,” he said.
Home Affairs Minister Jeremiah Norbert used the occasion to caution the new correctional officers about the realities they would face when they assume duties at Bordelais.
“You are new. You are what we consider as fresh and that means you’ve become a target when you go to the prison tomorrow,” Norbert warned. “People are going to believe, inmates are going to believe, here’s an opportunity. They may believe that you’re naive.”
He urged officers to remain steadfast in the values taught during training and avoid compromising their integrity.
“Do not take the bribe. Truth is, once you take it once, you cannot let go of it,” he said.
“I want to encourage you to remain professional. Remember why you chose to serve as a prison officer. This is a serious job, and the Bordelais Correctional Facility is a very, very important pillar in our national security framework.”
Norbert also highlighted what he described as unprecedented government investment in both institutions.
“The only word that I can think of to describe the level of investment made by this Philip J. Pierre-led administration is unprecedented,” he said.
He added that both the Fire Service and Bordelais Correctional Facility had received significant resources because of the critical role they play in protecting the nation.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, who also serves as Minister for National Security and Justice, described the graduates as among the most important public servants in the country.
“This afternoon, the people who are graduating here today are arguably some of the most important people in Saint Lucia,” Pierre said.
Reflecting on the responsibilities of correctional officers, the Prime Minister noted that while citizens go about their daily lives, officers remain responsible for supervising individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes.
“These men and women have to see about their families, have to see about themselves, and have to protect themselves while they have to protect the people that they have responsibility for,” he said. “I do not think as a society, we give enough thought to the work done by the people who work at correctional institutions.”
Pierre said society often recognizes the importance of correctional officers when inmates escape custody.
“Today, I want, on behalf of the Government, the Cabinet in particular, and the people of Saint Lucia, to pay special honor and tribute and gratitude to these people for the work they do in the Bordelais Correctional Institution.”
The Prime Minister also called on Saint Lucians to place greater emphasis on recognizing the contributions of public servants who help keep the country functioning.
“We never sit to think about the good or the people who are causing this country to run smoothly,” Pierre said.
The newly graduated firefighters and correctional officers are expected to be deployed immediately, joining the front lines of emergency response, public safety and national security across Saint Lucia.