A sizable number of the five thousand residents in Montserrat gathered at the Salem Park to watch the Queen’s birthday annual parade, this time in celebration of and to commemorate the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in the 65th year of her reign.
This event took place on Monday, June 13, 2016, observed as a holiday in honour of the Queen’s birthday and the celebrations. There was a change of day for the parade which was normally held on the Saturday before the holiday observed on Monday. H. E. Governor Elizabeth Carriere had previously announced the change She noted that the Queen’s birthday parade which takes place at the Salem cricket field will be held on Monday which is a holiday rather than the Saturday. She explained that change date “from when we usually hold it. This change is to allow for a greater number of participants to be part of the march than had been possible before, as well the actual evening event,” pointing out the party will also take place on the evening of the same day, June 13.
It was not the first time that the Antigua Police band supported Montserrat celebration of the Queen’s birthday parade, and they were joined by soldiers from neighbours St. Kitts and Nevis as well as from Antigua.
ZJB’s Herman Sergeant reports on the parade as follows: “It was a parade not seen on Montserrat before with Soldiers from neighboring islands of St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua participating in the special event.
The audience marveled at the skill of the Honor Guard which was also made up of the Montserrat Defense Force, the Montserrat Police Service and the M.S.S. Cadet Core, a number of other uniform bodies were also present such as the Fire and Rescue Service, the Junior Fire Brigade, Prison Officers, Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade, the Montserrat Red Cross, Girl Guides, Brownies and of the Seven Adventist Master Guides, Pathfinders, Adventurers and Eager Beavers, they all are turned out smartly dressed much to the delight of the appreciative audience.
A highlighted of the well organized and executed parade was the trooping of the flag, the significance of which was explained by ZJB commentator Captain John Skerritt.”
The Antigua Police Band provided the music for the parade and once again impressed with the quality and energy of the performance. Her Excellency Governor Elizabeth Carriere inspected the troops and handed out medals to several officers for long and distinguished service. She took the salute along with Premier Romeo who also inspected the troops.
ZJB News reported the event as historic, saying the music was exciting and of the soldiers sharp and the crowd was not disappointed by the high class effort of all involved.
As normal officers from various organisations are honoured during Montserrat’s annual celebrations of the Queen’s Birthday Parade. This year eight such (Queen birthday) awards were made.
Receiving the efficiency decoration was Lieutenant Colin H. T. Fergus. Fergus joined Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF) on the 17th April 2001. His service is two-fold six years as an enlisted member of the Force during which he became Company Sergeant Major before being transferred to the Officers Corps and completing a further nine years on 11th November 2015. His enlisted service is counted as half years for a total 12 years of qualifying efficient service and he is therefore awarded the Efficiency Decoration.
Acting Warrant Officer Class Two Kelvin R. White joined the RMDF on 13th June 2009, his qualifying service began on 9 February 1986 as a member of the Montserrat Secondary School Cadet Corps where he was Company Sergeant Major before joining the Royal Montserrat Police Force in 1992. He has completed a total of 24 years of qualifying efficient service and was therefore awarded the Efficiency Medal with the 1st and 2nd Clasps.
Sergeant Calvin Lewis joined the RMDF on 7th October 2004, from the ranks of the Montserrat Secondary School Cadet Corps and completed 12 years of qualifying efficient service on the 13th May 2015 and is therefore awarded the Efficiency Medal.
Several police officers received clasps and medals in accordance with Section 2 of the Colonial Police Long Service Medal Regulations of the Police Act Cap 10.01.
Inspector of Police (Ag) Julian Wade received his 1st clasp as reward for long service and good conduct in the Royal Montserrat Police Service. Inspector Acting, Wade was enlisted into the Service on 26th April 1990 and was issued with a clasp for having completed twenty-five years continued service in the RMPS.
Ottley Laborde, Sergeant of Police Acting was awarded a 1st Clasp as reward for long service and good conduct in the RMPS. Sergeant, Laborde enlisted on 18th January 1988 and has completed twenty-five years continued service in the RMPS.
Police Constable Kelvin White was awarded a Colonial Long Service Medal as reward for long service and good conduct in the RMPS. Constable White enlisted on 4th January 1995 and has completed 17 years continued service in the RMPS.
Fire Officer Juliana Brand receieved a Colonial Long Service Medal for her work in the Montserrat Fire and Rescue Services. Brand has been a part of the service since 16th September 1997 and has completed 18 years continued service in the MFRS.
Fire Fighter Steviere West received the Colonial Long Service Medal for having completed 18 years continued service in the fire service.
Fire Fighter Jermaine Riley was also awarded the Colonial Long Service Medal for completing 18 years continued service in the MFRS.
Eight Awarded at Queen’s Birthday Parade
Held this year on Monday, June 13 in Salem, hundreds turned out to watch the pomp and ceremony which was larger this year with the presence of military and police personnel from St. Kitts & Nevis and Antigua & Barbuda.
It was a parade not seen on Montserrat before with Soldiers from neighboring islands of St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua participating in the special event. The audience marveled at the skill of the Honor Guard which was also made up of the Montserrat Defense Force, the Montserrat Police Service and the M.S.S. Cadet Core, a number of other uniform bodies were also present such as the Fire and Rescue Service, the Junior Fire Brigade, Prison Officers, Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade, the Montserrat Red Cross, Girl Guides, Brownies and of the Seven Adventist Master Guides, Pathfinders, Adventurers and Eager Beavers, they all are turned out smartly dressed much to the delight of the appreciative audience. A highlighted of the well organized and executed parade was the trooping of the flag, the significance of which was explained by ZJB commentator Captain John Skerritt.
John Skerritt:
Normally it’s trooping of the colors but we don’t have a regiment so therefore you would not have colors you will have the flag and the significant of the trooping of the flag, in fact it dates back to the seventeenth hundreds where it was recorded in my understanding the Grenadine guard orderly book and also in the Codestream guards orderly book that they had such a parade and the whole idea was to ensure that the ranks knew the flag, knew what the flag was like and in the battle the flag of color was raise, its normally in bright colors and its raised above the smother dust of battle so that if you lose your way you will always look for the flag and head back you know that where you were, in the Roman times they used the Roman Eagle but in our case…..it takes a more grandeur significance now because it’s all embroider and look all smart and nice.
The Antigua Police Band provided the music for the parade and once again impressed with the quality and energy of the performance. Her Excellency Governor Elizabeth Carriere inspected the troops and handed out medals to several officers for long and distinguished service. She took the salute along with Premier Romeo who also inspected the troops, the event was historic, the music exciting and of the soldiers sharp and the crowd was not disappointed by the high class effort of all involved.
Nine officers from the various uniformed bodies on Montserrat were awarded medals during the Queen’s birthday parade. Lieutenant Collin Fergus of the Royal Montserrat Defense Force RMDF received an award of decoration for twelve years of service, Acting Warrant Officer within the RMDF Kelvin R. White who received a second class for twenty four years of service and R M D of Sergeant Calvin Lois was given the award of medal for twelve years of his service to the force. Sergeant Ottly Labord and Acting Inspecting Julian Wade both received first class RMDF Sergeant Calvin Lewis was given the award ocular board and acting Inspector Juliana Wade both received the fast for twenty five years of service to the Royal Montserrat Police Service RMPS, two Firefighters Jemaine Riley and Staviere West as well Fire Officer Juliana Brand received awards of medals for eighteen years of service, Constable Calvin a white also received an award of medal.
