No need to fear sea, says Murrell

Barbadians need not be afraid of the sea and should forget the notion that the sea has no backdoor, says Director of the National Sports Council (NSC), Neil Murrell.

Speaking during the Community Sports Training Programme’s (CSTP) closing ceremony today at Browne’s Beach, Murrell said he wants Barbadians to forget that old saying and focus their attention on learning to swim and to not be afraid of the sea.

This was the first ‘Learn to Swim’ programme of its kind between the NSC, the National Conservation Commission (NCC) and the Barbados Coast Guard.

Following a few drownings last year along with multiple occasions where persons found themselves in difficulties while in the sea, Murrell said he was happy with the overall response, especially from the older generation.

The inaugural 10-week programme commenced November, 2019, and attracted 25 participants, some of whom were fearful of the sea and had no idea about how to swim.

“Of course, the persons who came to the programme were persons who didn’t know anything about swimming at all, persons who had a particular fear about the sea and this was the type of persons we were looking for, because in our vision we were hoping with this initial start and if you could get them a certain way then we could get all Barbadians to buy into the whole idea of swimming,” Murrell explained.

The inaugural Community Sports Training Programme for swimming was credited as success.

“We had persons who had drowned…[and] we had persons that got into difficulties. The NSC felt we could start with a programme of swimming for all persons within the community. We initially met the Coast Guard, Barbados Defence Force and the NCC, we sat down and put our heads together to determine the right time for the program and where we would have it.”

A family of three had no idea how to swim and decided to take part in the programme. Now Marcelle Greenidge, 57, her 38-year old son Dwayne Greenidge and her mother Winfred Greenidge-Toppin, who is close to 80 years-old, are all now able to swim. 

An excited Marcelle recounted how she learnt to push, glide, kick and pull. From there she learnt how to breaststroke, freestyle, float and save herself if need be.

“I came in as a novice, I did hate the water. Now I’m going back out as a swimmer and can’t wait for the advance programme,” she said.

The programme was conducted by certified lifeguards Nakesha Toussaint, Corey Antrobus and Christopher Gajada.

Toussaint said nearly every participant had a fear of the sea and he was happy to see how well they grasped the knowledge. He revealed that everyone was now able to swim on his or her own.

“We actually had to teach them baby steps right up and now all of them are swimming. Every single one of them can swim and everyone has their own technique and it is nice to witness,” she said.

Rawle Eversley, supervisor of the lifeguards said many of the drownings that occurred can be attributed to persons not understanding where they are permitted to swim on different beaches across the island.

“The drownings that were highlighted happened in areas that were not supervised by lifeguards. That is why people have to understand they should come and use the facilities that are there to keep them safe. Come to a beach that is supervised by lifeguards, go in areas that the lifeguards can see you and adhere to the instructions of the lifeguards and everyone would remain safe,” he said.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb