Pakuri Lifeguard Club gains momentum
Eight of 10 members of the Pakuri Lifeguard Club.
Eight of 10 members of the Pakuri Lifeguard Club.

THE lives of residents and visitors to Pakuri Village (formerly St. Cuthbert’s Mission) who want to take a swim are safe under the watchful eyes of the members of the newly-established Pakuri Lifeguard Club.

Samaya Simon, a member of the club

The Club was formed in August in time for the observances of Indigenous Heritage Month and the Village Day, as both events were held at community..
It’s main aim is to prevent any incidents of drowning or accidents while visitors and residents are have-ing a swim in the creek, located in the village, and which serves as a prominent attraction to many.

Club member, Samaya Simon, told the Pepperpot Magazine that being a lifeguard was not her first career choice but after undergoing intense training and becoming certified, she eventually took a liking to it.
Being an excellent swimmer is also a plus for the 20-year-old Pakuri resident who said she has been swimming in the community since at the age of six.

The Pakuri Lifeguard Club is comprised of 10 members of both sexes from the community who undertook three-weeks of formal training conducted by qualified Peace Corps volunteers. The group was coursed in First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and rescue breathing and other skills which required them taking both practical and theory sessions.

According to Simon who was born and raised in the community, the experience is a life-changing one and being a certified lifeguard will certainly aid towards enhancing the lives of youths in the village. The training as challenging but she was up for it and told herself she had to succeed to become a lifeguard.

She said that since the programme was quite successful it is hoped that it can be expanded and more youth be trained to and train to become members of the club.
Noting that safety is paramount, Simon said while it is the club’s role is to ultimately oversee and protect persons who are in and around the water, she also emphasised the importance of visitors paying heed the warning signs which are erected around the creek, adding from observation most times people pay scant attention and put themselves in danger.

As a consequence, whenever there is an event at the Creek (Mahaica River) or there are visitors at the Pakuri community, the all 10 members of the club will be on duty.
The Pakuri Lifeguard Club will be under the guidance of Toshao Lenox Shuman, however another village, Oneka Dundas, has been tasked with the day to day supervision while Village Council will undertake the payment of emoluments to the lifeguards.
For Simon, the Pakuri community is home for her as she has grown accustomed to the way of life there.

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