Nine Senior Level Meteorological Technician (SLMT) students and four students in the Operational Aeronautical Forecasting Course (OAFC) became the latest graduates of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) after successfully completing the 18-month SLMT and the two-month OAFC forecasting courses.
Previously known as the Class II Meteorological Technicians course, the SLMT programme for operational forecasters was the first course introduced at the CIMH in 1967 and now boasts 158 SLMT graduates across the region. This year’s 24th SLMT class included graduates from Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Maarten, and Trinidad and Tobago, and is the first cohort to complete a restructured course.
Ainsworth Saddler of Jamaica receives a certificate for the successful completion of the Senior Level Meteorological Technician Course from Kathy-Ann Caesar, Head of the Meteorology Section at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology.Ainsworth Saddler of Jamaica receives a certificate for the successful completion of the Senior Level Meteorological Technician Course from Kathy-Ann Caesar, Head of the Meteorology Section at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology.
In the last 12 years university students, mainly from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus have been trained in the CIMH 11th OAFC including those pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Meteorology programme. The course produces highly-skilled forecasters who are versed in theoretical aeronautical and operational procedures, with a focus on practical and operational applications in, aeronautical meteorology, tropical weather analysis, and weather forecasting.
Brandon Miller of Barbados receives a prize for the top student in the Operational Aeronautical Forecasting Course from Dr. Andrea Sealy, Meteorologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology.
Kathy-Ann Caesar, Head of the Meteorology Section at the CIMH said, “We are immensely proud of the dedication and hard work displayed by our SLMT and OAFC graduates. They have undergone rigorous training and have emerged as highly-skilled and competent professionals in the field of meteorology. We are confident that the successful graduates will make significant contributions to the meteorological services in the Caribbean region and beyond.”
Shemma Joseph of Saint Lucia receives a prize for top student in the Senior Level Meteorological Technician Course from Dr. Andrea Sealy, Meteorologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology.
Featured guest speaker Lyndon Alves, Specialist Meteorologist at the National Weather Watch Centre, Hydrometeorological Service of Guyana congratulated the graduates and emphasised the important role they will play in enhancing meteorological services and weather forecasting capabilities in the region.
A former graduate of the SLMT programme himself, Alves advised graduates that “on the (operational) desk, every forecast, advisory, watch, warning or report you do is a reflection of who you are as a person and a professional. Do your best with the available information and resources at the time.”
Certificates of completion and special prizes were presented to the graduates. Ms. Shemma Joseph of Saint Lucia received the award for top student in the SLMT course and Mr. Ainsworth Saddler of Jamaica received the prize for the most improved student. Brandon Miller of Barbados received the award for the top student in the OAFC, and Trecy Spencer-Lake of Antigua and Barbuda was recognized as the most improved student.
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