L-R John Cooper Robert Scott and John VanOsdol on JCG Cutter

In the summer of 2007, Auxiliarists John Cooper and John VanOsdol of the International Affairs Directorate visited Jamaica to hold discussions and conduct training with a group of Jamaicans dedicated to forming a volunteer search and rescue organization. 

Under the active leadership of Robert Scott, and the support of the Commanding Officer of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) Coast Guard, the establishment of a volunteer search & rescue organization on the island became both a reality and a great success story.  It was a classic model for the development of a start-up volunteer initiative to enhance safety at sea.

To strengthen the organization, new recruits were needed, and on October 22, 2009 JASAR held its first “Recruitment Forum” that attracted over 50 persons from all walks of life.  Just one week later, twenty-one prospective recruits reported for training at the JDF Coast Guard base located in the historic old pirate town of Port Royal.

They were given a tour of the base, a tour of the newly-delivered CG 42 meter county class patrol vessel and an extensive tour of Kingston Harbor.  Three training sessions are now complete, with three more to go, following which they will be inducted as fully fledged JASAR members, marking the formation of Jamaica’s first official flotilla.

The recruiting event was also a celebration.  The “JASAR Survivor Award” was presented to fisherman Everton Thompson, who began wearing his life vest after attending a JASAR presentation at the Cow Bay fishing village.

Mr Thompson receiving the Survivor Award from LCDR Solomon McAlla JDF (RET)

On January 5, 2009, their canoe overturned and his two colleagues, neither of whom was equipped with a life jacket, tragically lost their lives.  Everton gave a moving account of the incident at sea, thanking JASAR for the instruction that eventually saved his life.

Congratulations to Robert Scott and his team for a job well done, and for providing an example to those countries that wish to form their own volunteer search and rescue organization.

~NGS