In a major step to boost the country’s emergency response capabilities just weeks ahead of a high-profile international summit, 11 officers from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s fire and regular divisions have successfully graduated from a rigorous Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) recertification program. The five-day intensive training course was hosted by the American University of Antigua (AUA), and concluded ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in the nation.
The program was structured to refresh and expand participants’ foundational theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical skills for pre-hospital emergency medical response. Beyond skill-building, the curriculum also reinforced core professional values including continuous improvement, clinical accuracy, operational efficiency, cross-team collaboration, and consistent emergency preparedness. A central theme of the training, “Unlearn to Relearn”, underscored the evolving nature of emergency medical protocols: instructors emphasized that best practices in pre-hospital care are constantly updated, requiring first responders to remain open to new approaches, revised techniques, and shifting professional standards to deliver optimal care.
Dr. Courtney Lewis, Director of the Emergency Medical Training Centre, opened the program by urging officers to uphold strict standards of readiness, telling participants to “practice until it becomes instinct.” He repeated the call for ongoing collaboration and sustained professional development as non-negotiable pillars of effective emergency medical intervention.
Vivian Parker, who serves as both Fire Chief and Deputy Commissioner of Police, stressed the life-or-death stakes of high-quality EMT training for frontline first responders. “When an emergency strikes, the knowledge and skills these officers carry are the difference between life and death for those affected,” Parker said. He also extended formal gratitude to the nation’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team for their critical support throughout the training period, specifically recognizing two EMS personnel who were temporarily reassigned to the Airport Fire Outpost Station to cover response duties while fire officers completed their coursework.
Royal Police Force Commissioner Everton Jeffers officially congratulated the 11 graduating officers—Jess Bristol, Akeem Finch, Brad Benjamin, Darius Ambrose, Julion Daniel, Leona Ogarro, Orson Joseph, Tammie Ann Brookes, Tijahma Burns, Tyrell Benjamin, and Xavier Fernes—on their successful completion of the program. Jeffers urged the officers to immediately apply their updated knowledge and refined skills in their daily frontline duties.
The top police official noted the timing of the recertification initiative is particularly strategic, as Antigua and Barbuda makes final preparations to host CHOGM, an event drawing global heads of state and thousands of attendees in just a few weeks. “Emergency preparedness, and the ability of our first responders to deliver fast, effective medical care when it is needed, is a core component of the Royal Police Force’s overall readiness for an event of this national and international importance,” Jeffers explained. He closed by thanking program facilitators, EMS staff, and all stakeholders who contributed to the successful execution of the recertification training.