The Ministry of Home Affairs addressed challenges and drafted plans with senior officers of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) with a view to boosting and expanding its service to interior regions, at a recent retreat.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said, “The GFS is part of the joint services and in that context, whatever affects its operations in terms of the needs of the country, affects the joint services as a whole.” According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the minister also noted that sometimes the GFS’s profile within the joint services is not given the type of prominence that it deserves. He said in the event of a major conflagration the GFS is the entity to respond. He also acknowledged that the response time and the efficiency with which it discharges its functions at the scene of a fire are issues that have been in the public domain for some time.
According to Rohee, initially the GFS had been considered a coastal service. However, in recent years much has been done to expand the service of fire protection to citizens beyond the coast. “The Hinterland Strategic Plan, which is currently under consideration, provides a good basis for the service establishing its presence in Guyana’s interior,” the release noted. It also said an assessment of the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) with regards to the way in which the GFS responds to a call for assistance was highlighted.
In this regard, Rohee said that there have been instances where unnecessary issues arise at the scene of a fire, either because the SOPs were not adhered to or they needed to be amended in order to ensure that they served the purpose for which they were formulated. As regard investigations into the causes of fires, he said that the GFS needs to ensure that these are carried out expeditiously and accurately because they are very important particularly in matters relating to insurance and banking.
Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle said that the GFS welcomed the retreat as it presented an opportunity for the senior administration of the service to address current problems and plan for the future.
He noted that over the years, the GFS has encountered new challenges in carrying out its functions. These, he said, are closely associated with the developmental trends of Guyana such as the housing boom both on the coast and in the interior, the establishment of more industrial sites and the effects of changing weather patterns.
In recent years, the service has expanded and now consists of 14 stations countrywide, all of which have recorded an increase in their need.
