Fleet Chief Petty Officer (Retired) Sydney Alexander joined the Coast Guard at 21 with a plan to stay for six years. Somewhere along the way, that plan changed. His 29-year career came down to the strong bond he found with his crew: “Camaraderie, a family unit, love and looking out for each other.” It was a commitment that ultimately stretched from November 18, 1968, until his retirement on March 9, 1997.
On May 12, Alexander and his 11-member team hosted a special ceremony at the T&T Defence Force Reserves Headquarters in Chaguaramas to honour the forgotten pioneers from the Police Marine Branch, the West India Regiment (WIR), and other individuals from the civil service who formed the country’s very first Coast Guard and Regiment units. For Trinidad and Tobago to gain independence in 1962, the government needed its own defence structure encompassing land, sea and air elements to protect its newly sovereign status across its maritime borders and territories. Authorities had to pull trained personnel from the marine division of the police force and the recently disbanded British West India Regiment to form the nucleus of the Defence Force.
The motivation to host the inaugural event grew from something Alexander noticed during national celebrations. Traditionally, the Defence Force did not recognise its own retirees when they left the service.
“When I looked at the memorial day parade, it only focused on WWI and WWII Veterans (Thank you for your service, great respect). There and then I decided something must be done for our Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Veterans,” Alexander tells Guardian Media in an interview.
The event, which drew an audience of 130 officers, recognised 28 of these brave foundational veterans who are still alive. Fifteen were able to attend in person to receive a certificate and branded items. Alexander says arrangements are being made to deliver the packages to those who are at home or in care centres. Pulling the tribute together took three years of grinding logistics and planning. The organising committee spread the word through veteran groups and regular radio interviews.
“It was like an elevator, up and down, having meetings after meetings like see-saw and going nowhere, so this year, I said jump high or low, I am going forward with this journey,” he asserts, noting that the ceremony, which finally came together, was everything he hoped it would be.
“Words cannot describe my feelings. It was like going back down memory lane. I felt a bit emotional but I told myself to stay strong. There are not sufficient words in the dictionary to describe the feedback. What they say in a nutshell is ‘Bravo Zulu,’ and ‘well done this is a project that the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and extension Governments of the Day should have initiated. Sixty-four years later and it never came.’”
The formal part of the evening gave way to hours of food, refreshments, drinks and old talk. The success has solidified his plan to make the tribute an annual event every May 12. He wants the initiative to push for systemic changes in how former personnel are treated locally.
“Our vision is for veterans to be respected and given some recognition for their service, not only when they are serving but after. For example, we have a Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Veteran ID Card that is worth nothing in Trinidad and Tobago but as soon as you depart these shores, it is worth millions.”
Alexander’s history of building up the military community goes back to the 1970s, when he became one of the original founders of the Defence Force Football League Team during a turbulent period in national history.
“The team was formed in 1972 when the late Brigadier Joffre Serrette was returned to duty to quell the disturbance of 1970. He used sports as a stepping stone to bring back some public confidence in the military,” he notes. “In those days, the Army was ruling in the Port-of-Spain Football League (POSFL) and the Coast Guard was ruling in the Northern Football League (NFL). Both teams were called to a meeting and after a discussion we were told as of today it is now the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Football Team, no more Army and Coast Guard, you can be part of it, or return to your unit.”
Now, at 79, the East Dry River native turned Arouca resident is married with five children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Nearly 30 years after officially hanging up his uniform, the Fleet Chief Petty Officer is still on duty—well, kind of.
“As I get younger, my days are spent seeing about my health and helping those who are less fortunate. I’m also trying to help veterans live a comfortable life with the knowledge and experience that I accumulated over the years. For example, I put aside Wednesday of every week for any veteran who would like to have any discussion with me,” Alexander says.
