The customer’s concourse of the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, final Thursday, was crammed with well-wishers, colleagues, household, and associates, to rejoice the retirement of Captain Eric Bramwell, after he served 36 1/2 years within the Division of Security and Safety.
Surrounded by his spouse Grace, and daughter Ericia, Bramwell informed Caribbean Life throughout an interview on the UN that tears streamed down his face throughout a supervisors assembly that he had attended to debate the safety, and thought, “how many people on this room envisioned being in New York on the United Nations discussing the safety for delegates, head of states, and VIPs who would come onto the premises.”
“My journey began in Kingston, Jamaica in 1980, the place I used to be related to the preparatory committee of the Worldwide Seabed Authority, whereas serving within the particular department of the Constabulary Drive. I used to be tasked with offering safety for delegates attending boards on the worldwide convention heart, that is the place I first encountered the UN safety officers, who had come from New York,” stated Captain Bramwell, who was age 24, 165 kilos and 6”1’ tall.
A detective corporal again then within the Particular Department, he stated he was fairly impressed with the elite officers, and later, when he was about emigrate to the US, he informed himself that the one place he would wish to work was on the United Nations. Albeit, in September 1987, six months after arriving in New York, his final dream grew to become a actuality when he walked by means of the gates of the UN and joined the Security and Safety Service.
Bramwell admitted that at first, it was a bit boring, he nevertheless understood what his function was, and since he was uncovered to the UN in Kingston as an impressionable younger man who felt the safety officers may transfer mountains.
He recalled his first encounter with a younger man on the entrance gate entrance in New York, and instantly applauded his demeanor, and the way he was immaculately wearing uniform. “Until to this present day I by no means stated to him how a lot I had admired him,” Bramwell stated of his colleague who was from Japan.
Climbing the ladder from a safety officer, Captain Bramwell, who acquired on the job coaching, patrolling the perimeter of the complicated, in addition to weapons instruction, stated the safety service, has come a far method. New recruits, now obtain classroom instruction and are required to be bodily match akin to legislation enforcement officers many who’re skilled of their homeland.
Bramwell was one of many first of 26 UN officers, in 1991, to be deployed to northern Iraq the place he served for 4 months, after the primary Gulf struggle. He went right into a struggle zone not realizing what his function and capabilities have been, nevertheless, he felt the staff did an excellent job after understanding what was anticipated of them.
He stated despite the fact that it was high-risk being within the area, he was there to do a job, placing his army police expertise to work. The captain was not nervous in regards to the hazard and went on to help a number of mission assignments and conferences around the globe.
Captain Bramwell, who attended Manchester Excessive College in Mandeville, and skilled within the Nationwide Youth Service Program in Jamaica, went on to a powerful profession on the UN, serving from 1992 – 93 within the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia. In 1994, he headed the UN Safety Drive within the Former Yugoslavia, and from 2001-23, within the UN Transitional Authority in East Timor.
Included in his indelible, and impeccable journey, Captain Bramwell who’s a well-loved, and fascinating particular person, left an enduring, extraordinary imprint within the group that many skilled, when he served at UN conferences, such because the COP, Habitat, Stockholm + 50, the Worldwide Convention for Financing and Growth, and Safety Council Missions, cementing his success on the UNHQ, in a complete of 35 international locations.
UN Chief of Safety Michael Browne, a Limerick, Eire native, in a glowing tribute, invited a spherical of applause for Captain Bramwell’s unbelievable and excellent service. “Eric walked within the gates of the United Nations headquarters and joined triple S and after 36 and a 1/2 years of distinguished excellent service right here we stand tonight to honor him as he retires.”
He counseled Captain Brumwell, for his distinctive liaison with Hans Blix, head of the UN Weapons Inspection Staff, from 2003-2004, including that the expert captain, performed a vital function from 2005 to 2006 the place he served within the protecting element for deceased Secretary Normal Kofi Annan, who continues to be held in very excessive regard by all on the UN.
“Eric was the officer answerable for our particular investigations’ unit after I was deputy chief. That’s after we actually began to work carefully collectively and collaborate carefully collectively. I actually worth his opinion, his collaborative method of doing issues, his perception into the service and the regular hand that he’ll placed on my shoulder and say go left go proper as they used to say within the army.”
“You’re all the time proper each time. I wish to thanks,” stated Chief Browne, including, “we have now a couple of of our associates who stayed right here tonight we’re delighted to welcome you all and thanks for becoming a member of us. I do know it’s a mark of your respect,” he stated in regards to the jovial, and energetic Captain Bramwell, who was assigned because the LSO for the PGA 59th session, and from 2011 – 2020 served with the Particular Investigations Unit OIC, and 2021, till retirement within the Particular Companies Unit (OIC).
“I’m delighted to have had the chance to have one final swan track in Dubai again in December, after we have been there for the local weather change convention. It was a really fascinating second as a result of it was nice to have that point with you,” he stated to Captain Bramwell.
“I’m very unhappy to see you go, as a colleague as a pal as a legend. I’m delighted that you’re going to get extra time to spend along with your pretty household,” stated Chief Browne.
“Benefit from the fruits of your labor as a result of this can be a superb group and as you come nearer to retirement you notice simply how good the advantages are of getting labored with the UN.”
“Eric, I wish to thanks from the underside of my coronary heart in your service to this group to the security and safety service, it’s been an honor and pleasure to work with you.”
Deputy Chief of Safety, Kevin O’Hanlon, congratulated Captain Brumwell, whom he had inspired to use for the submit left vacant by late Vincentian-born Captain Tony Husbands, a pal, and colleague who died from COVID in 2020.
A number of retired and present safety officers, additionally spoke of the cherished reminiscences that they had working with Captain Bramwell, who was offered with a plaque from the Diplomatic Safety Service within the UN.
Captain Bramwell, a father to a few kids, whose retirement took impact, March 31, and who plans to are likely to his vegetable and flower gardens, in Florida and Jamaica, spoke passionately about his loving spouse, Grace, whom he stated waited for him after he had joined the UN, touring forwards and backwards to Jamaica.
