From left: Manager of Communications and Government Relations at the Barbados Light and Power Company Limited (BL&P), Jackie Marshall-Clarke with Managing Director of the BL&P, Roger Blackman and Jennifer Blackman, Communications Co-ordinator, as they spoke with the media during yesterday’s training session.
IN light of the many road fatalities so far for the year, the Barbados Light and Power Company Limited (BL&P) thought it was time to expose their children to the defensive driving safety training that staff receive each year.
Manager of Communications and Government Relations, Jackie Marshall-Clarke, expressed that the safety workshop, which was held at the Barbados Light and Power Headquarters yesterday morning under the theme “Up De Ting Safely”, was intended to remind and assist their children, who were of the age to receive their driving licences, about the importance of driving safely. She explained that the children were taken through the same full-day training exercises that many of the drivers at Light and Power go through.
The 30 children were exposed to demonstrations by a few firefighters, who showed them how the jaws of life was used to get persons out of a crushed car; and had discussions with persons from the Royal Barbados Police Force as well as a driving instructor. The whole day was aimed towards arming the children with the information and tips they needed to know in order for them to conduct themselves safely on the road whether they were driving, passengers or pedestrians on the side of the road.
Marshall-Clarke formally thanked the Health, Safety, Environment Quality (HSEQ) team for pulling the whole thing together and assisting them with the plans for the day. She noted that for years, the BL&P usually trained their workers in defensive driving and safe driving habits, but wanted to extend it a little further this year to more employees, their children and their children’s friends.
“We’re happy that we were able to get together today after being concerned about safe driving habits and being distracted on the roads, not only for employees but for our children as well,” she said.
Managing Director, Roger Blackman, also highlighted the pledge for the day, which was: “I promise to be a responsible road user when I am walking, riding, driving or being driven. I will be safe.”