Officers of the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Services began a week of activities by attending a special service conducted by the Pathfinders at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church on Saturday, October 6. The two uniformed groups staged an impressive procession into the church building for the mid-morning service to the applause of the fairly large congregation.
The officers were accompanied by the Minister responsible for Fire and Rescue Services, Mr. Curtis Richardson; Ministerial Assistant, Mr. Othlyn Vanterpool; Permanent Secretary, Mr. Karim Hodge; and Acting Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, Mr. Terry Harrigan. They were welcomed to the service by the Director of the Pathfinders, Mr. Malcolm Webster.
Speaking on behalf of himself and party, Minister Richardson commended the Pathfinders for the way they conducted the service. He was particularly impressed with the two young people who took turns in delivering the sermon on the importance for persons to represent their own identity rather than impersonate others. The young preachers’ point of reference was the Biblical story of Esau and Jacob.
“I am very happy to be here at the start of the week of activities by the Fire and Rescue Services and to support the officers,” Minister Richardson told media representatives. “I am glad that we recognize God in everything we do. It was a very interesting service, and my heart was tremendously blessed to see that the young people of the Seventh-day Adventist Church had taken the lead in the service – and I think they did very well. I particularly enjoyed the sermons especially the one by the young lady who spoke last. I think her sermon was very excellent. It appealed to me to know that throughout a period of time God has had the ability to bring us to what He wants us to be. The sermon by the young man was also very good. I commend both of them and I urge our people to go out to worship.”
Mr. Richardson took the opportunity to speak about the fire and rescue service. “The work of the officers is a tremendous service and a lot of sacrifice,” he remarked. “They work long and arduous hours. Sometimes when you go to the Fire Station you see them just sitting there, as it were, and because there is no fire around it seems that they are not doing anything. But their service is invaluable and for one part they keep the aerodrome going. We are hoping to get two new fire trucks before the end of the year – and we are also looking to complete the Fire Hall.”
