On Monday, May 25th, 2015, the recently formed Volunteer Emergency Response Unit in Harbour Island, presented a check to one of their volunteers, Mr. Johnathan Kelly, to commence a three month emergency response training course in New Providence, with classes slated to begin on Tuesday morning, May 26th.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), James Miller, with responsibility for Harbour Island, was present for the check handover and commented that upon completion of the course, Johnathan would be internationally certified and registered in emergency medical response as an emergency medical technician and would be able to conduct local training of other volunteers as well on his return.
The funds in the amount of $3,500 for the training course were raised by the volunteers with the Emergency Response Unit in the month of February during Fire Safety Week activities in Harbour Island, said ASP Miller. The presentation of the check was held at the public dock in Harbour Island with the Fire Truck and all other local emergency response volunteers present for the occasion.
Miller explained that it was an emotional moment for Johnathan, who had been trying to arrange for some training at the clinic during the summer. “At the time we didn’t know”, shared ASP Miller, adding, “but we identified him as an ambitious young person within the community, who is disciplined – which was important to us, church going, and involved in many activities.
He exemplified what we were looking for.” Treasurer of the Volunteer Emergency Response Unit, Doug Loury, ceremoniously presented the check to young Johnathan. The new Volunteer Emergency Response Unit in Harbour Island resulted from a merger of the volunteer fire safety brigade and emergency medical technician personnel on island to form one branch, earlier in 2015.
