The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday held its 2009 First Aid Competition for the Smellie Cup at Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Drill Square, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Immigration and Passport Office policemen and women in demonstration of First Aid.

The aim is to develop First Aid capability among members of the GPF.

GPF is a division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, which was established back in 1931.

The GPF, apart from its core functions, assists the citizenry throughout the country in rendering first aid to the sick and injured in times of emergency.

First Aid was introduced in the GPF in 1927, and in 1931 the Police became a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

Colonel W.A. Orrett, C.B.E., K. P H., the Commissioner of Police, was the first Commissioner of the Brigade.

He later became the Commander of this Order. The current Commissioner of the Order is Major Patrick Smith.

Special Constabulary ranks in their First Aid display.

As a means of promoting enthusiasm amongst members of the GPF, a Cup was donated by Captain C.H. Smellie in 1950, for the Annual Competition among teams drawn from various sections of the Force.

Captain Smellie at that time was a member of the Brigade Council and served as Organisation Section of the British Guiana Red Cross Fund (1940-42).

The Cup was won by the Felix Austin Police College on 13 occasions, TSU five, Quartermaster Stores three, Force Control and Welfare Office (combined) two, Immigration and Passport Office two, Special Constabulary four and current holder ‘B’ Division 10, won the competition in 2008.

This year’s competition attracted 14 teams, but after elimination, the best five vied for the spot