MONTEGO BAY, St James ­— Seventy-year-old Vernal Cunningham was all smiles as he collected his shirt and certificate to signify that he was trained to be a marshal for the Montego Bay Transportation Centre.

He was the oldest and longest-serving “loader man” in the training programme that lasted three days and taught the participants various skill sets including customer service and conflict resolution.

Cunningham was pleased at what this would mean in terms of recognition for the work the loader men have been doing for years.

“People respect me but this will make them more see me and respect me for what I do,” said Cunningham.

He explained that he has enjoyed what he has been doing and despite what some may believe, it has provided a level of support for him and his loved ones.

“I love it. I send seven kids to school doing this work,” declared Cunningham as he argued that the respect he has received over the years reflects how he deals with the commuters he comes in contact with.

“A lot of people love me because I help them, I’m always willing to help. I don’t curse anyone but sometimes we get a lot of cursing, well the others get it but I don’t get it because I like to help people,” added Cunningham.

He was one of 19 men who participated in and graduated from the programme which he believes will go a far way in helping to change the perception of loader men.

“I would encourage anyone who wants to do to do it, but they have to have manners,” he said.

Among the participants in the training programme was Cunningham’s son Nathaniel, who has been doing that job for the last eight years.

Like his father, Nathaniel has been assisting mainly passengers heading for Lucea, Hanover.

Cunningham has another son who also serves as a loader man in the transportation centre but he did not participate in the training programme.

According to Cunningham, he always encourages his boys to put their best foot forward while doing their job.

“Two of them in it and I tell them to always help people because if you don’t help people you can’t reach anywhere in life,” said Cunningham.

For Nathaniel, after working as a bus conductor and having differences with drivers, it was the advice of his father that guided him to his current career path.

“I started to take up the trade and people get used to me and him say just do it and it maintain my family now, pay my bills,” said Nathaniel.

He pointed out that while he admires his father for doing the job in the transport centre for several years, he might be looking to do some other things in the future.

“I would want to go on the farm work programme to see my dream house and dream car, so I don’t think this will push it to that level but for now it a feed me now, so I’ll hold on,” added Nathaniel

Like his father, he is appreciative of what has been done to try and regularise them.

“It’s a good look; yes, it’s a good look,” remarked Nathaniel.

Corporal Jacqueline Williams, the community safety and security officer based at the Barnett Street Police Station, is the coordinator of the programme.

She revealed that they were pleased that they have finally managed to carry out the project which has been slated to happen for a while.

“This initiative started in 2019 through the work of former divisional commander, Senior Superintendent Vernon Ellis, where our new marshals were examined by personnel from the Ministry of Health,” said Williams.

“COVID-19 came in so the programme could not continue but today I am proud and I am glad that we have 19 men who were trained in conflict resolution, customer service, personal hygiene, personal safety and security to name a few,” added Williams as she expressed confidence that the programme will change the perception of loader men.

“Now that they are there and not looking like everybody else, they are in uniform and with this persons will be able to identify them to say yes whenever we go inside the transportation centre, these are the persons who will help us to get on the buses,” she said.