For the first time ever the Guyana Fire Service is hosting the 4th Biennial Conference of the Caribbean Association of Fire Fighters (CAFF).
The conference opened on Tuesday evening with participants from at least nine Caribbean countries.
During the opening ceremony President of the CAFF, Lennox London said that over the years the organization has overcome numerous challenges but still it has many more to face with the introduction of the regional single market.
London said currently the organization is seeking to unify firefighters throughout the Caribbean, and pointed out that they can be used as a tool for regional integration.
“Since the introduction of the CSME I have seen several regional bodies being successfully established and trying to establish a successful regional fire fighting body should not be a difficult task,” London said. He however pointed out that financing for the successful establishment of the body is one key area that needs urgent attention. London said at present CAFF is working towards setting up a regional training centre for firefighters, a diploma programme at the University of the West Indies and programmes in arson investigations. The CAFF President also highlighted the need for the establishment of a Caribbean Disaster Response Team.
On the occasion Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee congratulated the Guyana Fire Service on their 50th anniversary celebration which coincides with the conference.
The minister in his address to the gathering urged the participants to make full use of the teaching since it would all serve one common purpose which is to see the region develop. Minister Rohee further urged the delegates to formulate policies that will assist in taking the profession in the direction of having a unified Regional Fire and Rescue Service. He added that this is critical for the all round development of firefighters throughout the Caribbean as well as the successful realization of the association’s vision. He further praised the efforts of CAFF which has over the years provided advanced training programmes.
The conference so far has seen participants from Trini-dad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, Montserrat, Dominica, Martinique and St. Lucia. There are also two representatives from the US. After the conference Martini-que and Antigua are expected to be made official members of CAFF.
The conference opened at the Ocean View Hotel and Convention Centre.