Tag: Templar Corps

NOVEMBER 4

The morning started with the Delegation being taken for a planning visit to the Secretary of State for Communities. Throughout the week, we’ve been engaging with the realities of Guinea-Bissau and gathering information on many of its needs, as well as areas where the Templar Corps has the capacity to contribute to positive, significant changes.

Following last week’s meeting with His Excellency the Minister of Education, it became clear that dropping out of studies without acquiring technical and professional skills leaves a significant number of young people out of the educational system before they can develop the technical skills needed for a profession. Additionally, there are many requests arriving at the Secretary of State for Communities for support in studying in Portugal. However, it’s challenging to promptly address all situations since specific rules govern student visas, including requirements for accompanying students during the academic period.

In this context, within the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding and aligned with the upcoming Protocol, the Templar Corps proposed forming training classes in specific technical-professional fields and assuming all logistics for training and internships in Portugal, under the guidance of the Algarve Outpost and the Commandery of Arraiolos.

This, set to be the first project from the Partnership, was agreed upon in its general terms. It will allow a limited number of students—expected to expand in 2025—to receive training and internships in essential fields for Guinea-Bissau, such as Electricity, Sanitation, Construction, and Sustainable Agriculture, among others.

To initiate the process through official channels, the Templar Corps informed relevant authorities in the Portuguese government about the Memorandum of Understanding with Guinea-Bissau, as well as about the plans that will be outlined in the near future.

The Mission’s schedule was reviewed, focusing the upcoming days on the expertise of Vice-Commander Amador, specifically in overseeing firefighter training and meeting with the Minister of the Interior to potentially provide training for security forces and coordinate with Civil Protection.

The training at the Bissau Fire Station will occur on the 5th and 6th, with theoretical instruction on the first day and practical procedures on the second, covering emergency response and basic life support techniques.

To prepare the activities, Vice-Commander Amador went to the Fire Station, where he conducted a more detailed general inspection, gathering information on the most pressing issues related to both equipment and maintenance, as well as knowledge gaps.

Much of the available equipment results from international donations. The equipment is generally good, in active use, and the team’s skills are adequate for its handling. However, there are limitations when it comes to larger or more impactful emergencies. Additionally, due to the varying origins of the equipment, compatibility issues with standards and technology arise. For example, hoses from some firefighting vehicles have connectors of different diameters and standards, causing confusion and disruptions during emergencies.

The technical visit was extremely valuable, significantly aiding the Templar Corps in tailoring the upcoming training to the specific needs of this essential fire department in Guinea-Bissau’s capital.

The meeting between the Templar Corps and the fire department’s leadership was both effective and very cordial, as they exchanged ideas, discussed needs and shortages, and worked toward a better understanding of how to introduce new dynamics in teamwork.

Vice-Commander Amador then spoke briefly with the team members, explaining the content of the theoretical training scheduled to start tomorrow and the requirements for the practical training the following day, where equipment and personnel must be prepared to respond to a simulated emergency mission.

The night ended with another planning meeting before dinner. Project A, focusing on technical and professional training for young people from Guinea-Bissau under the Templar Corps and Secretariat of State for Communities agreement, was finalized, with the process now underway. Project B, aimed at coordination and training for Bissau’s Fire Department, was also advanced, with more details to follow after the upcoming two days of training. Finally, a visit to Cacheu Hospital was scheduled for the 7th to gather detailed information on healthcare needs.

It was decided that I, Luis de Matos, Head of Mission, should return to Portugal due to health concerns caused by the heat, including a significant low blood pressure episode, as well as to oversee Project A’s launch. Additionally, with protocol matters largely resolved, my presence is not essential for the forthcoming training sessions. The mission will continue with Commander Rui Herdadinha and Vice-Commander Jorge Amador.

NOVEMBER 5

Early in the morning, Commander Herdadinha posted a picture of his breakfast on Facebook. I saw it from my room and rushed to join him. By the time I arrived, he had already gone for his morning walk. Yes, this boundless energy battery went to bed late last night and today, after nearly a week of meetings and travel under nearly 40°C (104º F) heat, and he still woke up before 7 AM and went for a happy half-hour walk before the rest of the delegation was ready to join him for breakfast! Shortly after, Jorge Amador came down and we chatted over coffee until Herdadinha reappeared, smiling widely, joking, “I always get up at 6 AM!”

After breakfast, we split up. Jorge was very motivated for the training. He mentioned that the firefighters asked many questions and were excited about learning more, especially with the idea of conducting drills for real-life situations, something they hadn’t done yet. They departed for their mission, and we said our goodbyes. Soon after, Liaison Officer Afonso Mendes came to pick me up at the hotel to take me to the Bissau airport.

We took a typical Bissau taxi. As the Mercedes skillfully avoided collisions with other vehicles—taxis, jeeps, cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians crossing the road without warning—I felt like I was watching a huge flock of birds. It seemed chaotic, but each participant was so aware of the others that no one collided. During my days in Bissau, I didn’t witness a single accident or even a minor fender-bender between two vehicles (or “viaturas,” as they like to say, influenced by French, the growing language in the country).

When we visit a foreign country, we tend to compare what we see with what we have at home. There are always differences and curious aspects. But for me, Guinea-Bissau defies all rational observations. There are many things I don’t understand, leaving me utterly perplexed about the reasoning behind certain decisions. In the context of my visit to the airport, I’ll give just three examples. Without wanting to diminish the country, which I loved, here they are:

My flight ticket was purchased at a travel agency in Bissau about 2 hours before the flight. The agency uses the Galileo system. Due to internet issues in Bissau, Galileo hadn’t synchronized with TAP by the time I arrived at the airport for check-in. Since check-in is done through TAP’s website by their staff and not through Galileo (which they do not have access to), I had no reservation still in the system! They sent me to a hallway with some rooms where a staff member “maybe could solve the problem.”

I had already seen rooms identified with engraved signs, company stickers, or even printed paper fixed to the wall with tape. But I had never seen a room marked with a post-it note! Was it really that temporary?

I understood from the staff member that the only way to solve the problem was by paying for a new ticket and reservation. So I asked the Liaison Officer, who was outside on the parking lot, to help. He managed to get inside the airport and approached the room. The conversation between him and the officer was in Creole (the language typically spoken by Guineans among themselves), but I understood parts of it. It was probably something like this:

“The reservation is not in the TAP system. You need to make a new one and pay.”

“But it was made and paid at the agency two hours ago. Can’t you find it in the system?”

“Agency? What agency? Here? In Bissau?”

“Yes, at the [Agency Name].”

“At [Agency Name]? With whom?”

“It was Djuma, I just came from there.”

“DJUMA? You said DJUMA? I know her! Djuma?”

“Yes, do you want me to call her?”

“She was my schoolmate. Djuma? From my class…”

“Hello, Djuma, I’m here at the airport with a reservation problem…”

“Give me the phone… Djuma? How are you? It’s Naiana! Yes, from your school! I’m here, working with TAP now. Yes, there’s a gentleman here with a problem. Yes… Yes… Alright… Goodbye then.”

And, by a miracle, the unsolvable problem was solved! He gave me a new boarding pass and ripped up the previous reservation… Just like that. Blessed Djuma! [Names changed to protect the individuals.] I couldn’t get my head around that one!

Once inside the departure lounge, I wanted to know the WiFi password.

There it was, this time not on a post-it, but on a printed sheet of paper stuck to a pillar with pieces of tape. First off, having a password like “123456789” or no password at all is the same thing! But why on earth would you put this password on a public network and then post a piece of paper with the password? I don’t get it. The password is so weak it’s almost like there isn’t one at all, but there is. My mind spins without control. It makes me want to try all the passwords for all the other systems in the airport!

But it doesn’t stop there. I search for the network and can’t find it. I make my phone do a deep search. Nothing. It doesn’t exist. I was on my third attempt when a gentleman sitting next to me, seeing my body language, touched my shoulder and said, “Read it again.” I replied, “WiFi – Partida – Password: 123456789.” He responded, “No, read carefully. It’s broken. It doesn’t work.” “Ah! WiFi – PARTIDA (in portuguese “partida” means “departure”, but also “broken”…) Ah! Ok… My mind melted right then and there.

Three simple examples of my constant perplexity! And so, I boarded the flight.

Meanwhile, the other members of the delegation began their training session.

The training focused on key areas essential for responding to emergencies efficiently and safely, including:

Urban Firefighting: Discussing specific techniques to control fires in different environments and prevent the spread of flames.

Rescue and Pre-Hospital Care: First aid techniques, including basic and advanced life support, use of defibrillators, and trauma care.

Rescue in Vehicle Accidents: Techniques to free and assist victims trapped in wrecked vehicles.

Disaster Management and Emergency Coordination: Planning for rapid and efficient response to natural disasters and large-scale incidents.

Operational Equipment and Safety: Training in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and firefighting vehicles to minimize risks to firefighters, which will be the focus of tomorrow’s drills.

The day ended with a dinner where a very positive assessment of the Mission so far was made. Tomorrow will be especially challenging, with drills, followed by a trip to the Cacheu region on Thursday.

DAY 9, 10 and 11 »»»