The Dutch Caribbean Fire Brigade is exploring the possibility of introducing Search and Rescue teams on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. In preparation for this, during the 2nd week of February Mr. Dwayne Straum of the Caribbean Emergency Responders Training Academy (CERTA) visited the Fire Department on St. Eustatius in connection with the ground work for a Light USAR (Urban Search and Rescue team) for the Dutch Caribbean.
Each island will have the possibility for forming a Search and Rescue team of maximum 18 persons. Persons eligible to join this team can also come from both public and private sector agencies.
The training course will last approximately 5 weeks and candidates will receive certification upon completion. The certification is equivalent to that of the UN standards, which translates into our regions working along in assisting each other and if necessary with other professionals from Europe and other parts of the world.
The C-E-R-T-A Urban Search and Rescue training is funded by the European Union under the umbrella of the R3i project of UNDP which will end in Dec. 2012. "We hope to commence this training course sometime in the first quarter of this year, more info will be fort coming on the exact dates", remarked Andre Bennett, Local Commander of the Fire Brigade on St. Eustatius.