Having started in Barbados, where Mark Ince (SMC 34), champions the Association, the Caribbean Chapter is now firmly established in Jamaica, where 100 alumni are connected through the active stewardship of Errol Stewart (SMC 25). 

The Jamaica Chapter had its exuberant launch – helped by the talented Band of the Jamaica Defence Force – in September when the UK’s High Commissioner, Judith Slater, hosted a cocktail party, at her Residence, in her final week. Great to see the WhatsApp Group, connecting this number of highly capable people, being used during Hurricane Melissa.

Meanwhile in Cayman, under the stewardship of Gabe Rabess (CCS 202) there are now 22 Sandhurst alumni. Some served in the British Army and are now pursuing second careers in this Overseas Territory, some are Caymanians serving in the relatively new Cayman Islands Regiment, where Gabe is the Adjutant. Again, a cocktail party hosted by the Governor, Her Excellency Jane Owen, at her Residence, got the Cayman Chapter off to the best possible start.  

Looking ahead, champions for the alumni association have volunteered in Trinidad and Tobago and in Belize: Ashok Singh (CC 981) and Jermaine Burns (CC 012) respectively. And it seems another Overseas Territory, with another new Regiment, the Turks and Caicos, are soon to follow.

November saw a significant moment in Barbados when Sandhurst Graduate Jeffrey Bostic (SMC 25) became that Country’s Second President. A fellow course-mate, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordon, was there to support his old friend, both at the inauguration and at a dinner the President hosted for Sandhurst alumni, the evening before. With fellow SMC 25 course-mate Errol Stewart from Jamaica present, His Majesty donated significant medical supplies, through the Alumni Association, to support Jamaican Defence Force relief operations, post Hurricane Melissa.  

The Prime Minister of Guyana, Mark Philips (SMC 26), who was at the Academy at the same time as King Abdullah and his Excellency the President, was there as well. Clearly there was something in the water that year!  

The Academy featured strongly in His Excellency Jeffrey Bostic’s inauguration speech, the moto of ‘Serve to Lead’ providing the thread linking an exceptional career that started as a young Army Cadet being given the ambition and support to look beyond a humble start, to Commissioning from Sandhurst, to subsequent Military Command in Barbados, to Parliamentary Service, to becoming Barbados’s Minister of Health during the Pandemic and now its Head of State.

Anyone interested in joining the Caribbean chapter is very welcome to connect with Barbados based Nigel Dakin (SMC 31), on nigeljohndakin@mac.com, or via LinkedIn.