Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

A total of one hundred and thirty-five (135) young men and women from communities across Dominica have been officially recruited into the Dominica Cadet Corps unit. The investiture ceremony took place on Sunday, 19th July, 2009 at the Castle Bruce Secondary School following a two week training exercise.

The new cadets were issued with certificates of enrolment. Before the official enrolment ceremony, Camp Commander, Captain Dawson Robin, gave a report of the training course conducted from July 04, 2009.

“Over the last fifteen (15) days, recruits and cadets were schooled in basic orienteering, field craft, expedition training, foot and arms drills, physical training, country code and military knowledge while officers and non commissioned officers were exposed to management and leadership concepts.”

Notwithstanding the outstanding achievements of these new cadets, Captain Robin also took time off to reflect on the untimely death of young Launel Boston. Captain Robin described him as ‘the little engine that could’ - a very energetic young boy who was always willing to help.

Commander in charge of the Dominica Cadet Corps, Major Francis Richards, announced the naming of a scholarship for cadets after the late Nelson Boston by the Hon. Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit.

“We give thanks for the scholarship in the name of Cadet Boston. Today, for the first time in ninety-nine (99) years, we have a scholarship dedicated to the Dominica Cadet Corps in memory of our departed brother, Launel Nelson Boston. Let us strive to show that we are worthy of that display of recognition by our Honourable Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The Honourable Prime Minister has indicated that the Launel Boston Scholarship shall be an annual scholarship given to a deserving cadet for the duration of five (5) years.

The enrolment of the over one hundred cadets into the Dominica Cadet Corps is being considered as a testimony of the continued growth of the programme in Dominica. The Hon. Parliamentary Representative for the area, Loreen Bannis-Roberts who represented the Hon. Prime Minister at Sunday’s ceremony expressed her delight that the Roosevelt Skerrit led administration revived the Dominica Cadet Corps and explained why.

“As a Government, I am so happy that we revived the Cadet Corps as we saw it fit to address the problem of our young people not having enough to do, not having enough organisations to belong to. I want to particularly thank Major Francis Richards in a special way as he has been persistent and has ensured that the Dominica Cadet Corps was revived and is now vibrant in Dominica.”

A contingent from Montserrat Cadet Corps from the Montserrat Cadet Corps Unit and Warrant Officers Brian Triboolay and Desmond Patrick from the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Corps assisted the Dominica Cadet Corps in carrying out the training exercise.