Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) Executive Director Dr. Carey Wallace (left) presents Jay Horton with a certificate. Mr. Horton is part of the first graduating class of TEF-sponsored lifeguard and standard first aid/CPR provider certifications. Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Rose Hall High School in Hanover. All of the new lifeguards are upperclassmen at the school.
The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has made significant strides towards ensuring safer beaches for both Jamaican visitors and local residents.
In a pioneering effort, TEF partnered with multiple public and private sector entities to implement an innovative pilot project through its Jamaica Tourism Innovation Center division. The project marks a pivotal moment in strengthening safety measures across Jamaica’s coastal communities, with a focus on rigorous training and certification of two lifeguard corps.
Dr Carey Wallace, Executive Director of TEF, said the initiative “forms part of a transformative, value-added tourism industry-led process that will directly benefit Jamaica’s people while also helping Jamaica compete as an international destination.” The purpose is to strengthen our power.”
Speaking at the commencement ceremony on May 9, Mr. Wallace emphasized the potential of tourism for Jamaica’s economic independence and national prosperity, which will be achieved through the development of professional standards in all areas of the value chain, especially human development. said that it would be achieved.
Nine of the 14 Rose Hall High School seniors who will graduate with lifeguard and Royal Life Saving qualifications after six months of training will become lifeguards and provide standard first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Five completed the standard first aid qualification, completing all three aspects to qualify as a first aid worker. Providers of assistance and CPR.
The lifeguard certification project was born out of concerns expressed by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association Negril Chapter and other tourism organizations regarding the availability of certified lifeguards in resort towns. In this vein, Rose Hall High School and Negril Waverunners Swim Club were approached to collaborate to increase the number of lifeguards in the area.
High schools recruited upperclassmen participants, and JHTA members accepted volunteers to learn swimming and train as lifeguards under the guidance of the Negril Waverunners Swim Club. Certification is carried out by the Royal Institute of Lifeguards, and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) facilitates the issuance of licenses and enables their employment. The Ministry of Education and Youth Affairs also approved the project.
In addition to swimming training, the students also received training in water safety, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, rescue techniques and ethics.
Dr Wallace said the aim is to include other parishes during the 2024/25 financial year as tourist numbers continue to increase and TEF continues its public beach development efforts across the island. He said he plans to expand the lifeguard program to St. James and St. Ann. For the next few years.
“This is part of the bigger picture that we are embarking on in tourism, particularly TEF,” Mr Wallace said.
He added that Jamaica has the potential to become a developed country with workers earning higher incomes, adding: “The answer is to upskill and obtain international qualifications so that workers are sought after from all over the world.” ”, he emphasized.
Meanwhile, on behalf of the JHTA Negril Chapter, President Karen Lanigan said, “Our industry has been suffering from a chronic lifeguard shortage for some time and this initiative is a bold step to address the situation. We are very proud of this project.”
Annesia Smith, who conceived the project at Rose Hall High School with support from TEF, has been swimming since she was five years old. She thought this was a good way to address the need for more trained lifeguards, she said.
School Board Chairman Lionel Miley expressed his delight that the school had been selected for the pilot project and said he was looking forward to taking part in the next stage.
